Brazilian winger who dreams of joining Arsenal eyes Premier League summer move

Arsenal have been offered a chance to sign Brazilian winger Luiz Henrique, who has made it clear that he wants a move to the Premier League this summer.

According to journalist Bruno Castanha, Henrique’s camp is focused on securing a move to one of Europe’s biggest leagues, preferably England.

The Zenit St. Petersburg winger has been linked with a move to his native Brazil, with ArsenalNews.co.uk claiming that Brazilian Serie A champions Flamengo are weighing up a potential transfer.

However, the 25-year-old’s priority lies elsewhere. Henrique joined Zenit from Botafogo in January last year after a brief but eye-catching return to his homeland.

He has been in decent form since moving to Russia, returning four goals and six assists in 33 games.

He has scored two goals and provided three assists in 16 league games this term. Those numbers may not place him among the most prolific wingers in Europe, but they tell only part of the story.

Henrique is a direct, hard-working wide player who enjoys taking on defenders and competing in physical battles.

On average, he wins 6.6 duels per match and completes 1.6 take-ons per game. He also contributes defensively, making 4.2 recoveries and 1.6 tackles per match.

Henrique put up similar numbers in terms of dribbling and winning duels during his one and a half year spell at Betis before joining Botafogo in January 2024.

The Brazilian winger is versatile enough to operate on either wing and is also capable of playing through the middle when needed.

Henrique has been vocal about his desire to play in England. Back in November last year, he openly spoke about his admiration for the Premier League.

He described himself as a huge fan of both Arsenal and Manchester City, who are the most competitive and ambitious teams in England at the moment.

Speaking to Bolavip, Castanha revealed details of his chat with the player’s representatives, who made it clear that a move to the Premier League is a priority for the former Real Betis winger.

He said: “The agent’s response was: we see it positively (playing for Flamengo), but my first option is to put him in a big European team. Preferably, in the Premier League.”

Henrique even shared that his relatives believe he has the right profile to play for Arsenal. For now, there has been no formal approach from Arsenal or any other Premier League side.

However, a lot can change in a few weeks, and if Henrique manages to improve on his goal contributions before the end of the season, he could be one to watch when the summer window opens.

Arsenal could do with a winger of his profile and qualities to provide serious competition for Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.

At the moment, Leandro Trossard is the next in line after the Brazilian. Eberechi Eze can also provide cover on the left flank when required, but the Englishman is still adapting to life at Arsenal.

If Arsenal are going to compete for major honours, they need to refresh their attacking options.

Henrique is hardly an upgrade on his compatriot, but he could be an option if he’s available for a reasonable price. Other than that, Arsenal will likely set their sights on more established names next summer.

Arteta and his side will be focused on getting over the line and landing their first league title in over two decades as they continue their fierce battle with Man City.

Any transfer rumours will have to wait until after the season, when the club is focused on recruitment.

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