Alious**Arsenal’s Missed Opportunity? Why the Gunners Passed on Matheus Cunha Despite Striker Search**
Last month, Matheus Cunha was heavily linked with a potential move to Arsenal, as the Gunners explored options to strengthen their attacking lineup.
Reports from multiple outlets indicated that Cunha was among the forwards being considered to bolster the squad for the second half of the season.
While Arsenal had been tracking several strikers within the Premier League, their only concrete attempt during the January transfer window was for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
However, after Villa rejected their bid, Arsenal surprisingly chose not to pivot towards Cunha as an alternative, leaving many fans questioning the club’s decision-making.
Given Arsenal’s clear need for attacking reinforcements, the lack of follow-up interest in Cunha—especially with the Brazilian seemingly available after falling down the pecking order at Wolves—was unexpected.
Despite being a potentially suitable option, Arsenal refrained from making a move, and Cunha eventually secured a contract extension with Wolves, further diminishing any short-term prospects of a transfer.
This puzzling decision sparked speculation among supporters, prompting transfer expert Fabrizio Romano to shed light on the situation.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that while Arsenal had indeed been monitoring Cunha for some time and held him in high regard internally, the club had other strategic priorities. According to Romano, “Matheus Cunha is performing really well for Wolves and has attracted interest from several clubs.
Arsenal have appreciated Cunha for a long time, but their plan was to allocate significant funds towards signing a traditional number nine in the summer.”
Romano’s insights suggest that although Arsenal’s interest in Cunha was genuine, they were never fully committed to pursuing him in January
The club appears to be reserving resources for a marquee striker signing during the summer transfer window, focusing on securing a more classic, goal-scoring center-forward to lead their attack.
While Cunha could have been a valuable addition to Arsenal’s squad, the decision to pass on him highlights the Gunners’ long-term vision.
There’s still a possibility that Cunha might resurface as a target in future windows, but for now, Arsenal’s strategy seems centered on making a more impactful acquisition when the summer market opens.
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