Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to sign Crysencio Summerville, the West Ham winger valued at £50 million, ahead of Manchester United. The former Arsenal star believes the 24-year-old Dutch international would provide the pace needed to elevate the Gunners to the next level.
Summerville's standout season and World Cup form
Summerville is set to leave West Ham this summer after the club's relegation from the Premier League. He was one of the Hammers' standout performers, registering five goals and two assists in the league, particularly impressing in the second half of the season. He has carried that form into the World Cup, scoring for the Netherlands in both opening group-stage matches against Japan and Sweden.
Arsenal are reportedly keen to strengthen their options at left winger, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard facing uncertain futures. Summerville has already attracted interest from Manchester United, but Merson urged his former side to enter the race.
Merson: Arsenal need pace to dominate
'For me, they need a left winger to go to the next level, and they need to send it forward, in my opinion,' Merson told Metro. 'If Arsenal can get them two, I still think they win the league next year, but then I think they absolutely dominate football.'
'When you look at the transfer market, there are options out there. Someone like Summerville has been terrific. He's played well for West Ham and started really well at the World Cup for the Netherlands. He'd certainly be the kind of player profile that Arsenal should be looking at.'
Merson also mentioned PSG's Bradley Barcola as an alternative, but stressed the need for a winger who can scare opposition defences. 'I just find when I watch Arsenal, and I think it was really, really obvious when they played PSG, they're quite pace-less. They're not a quick team. They're not a team that they're going to counter-attack you, and you're fearless of them. That was the problem in the PSG game. There's not that much pace. And for me, I think that needs that real pace to take them to the absolute next level, where teams won't have to suffocate them like PSG did.'
Arsenal also linked with Morgan Rogers
Arsenal have also been linked with Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers. Mikel Arteta is reportedly driving the pursuit for the 23-year-old, with the Gunners poised to make an approach in the coming weeks. Rogers, speaking earlier in the summer, insisted that transfer speculation would not distract him at the World Cup. 'I think the first time it ever happened it was [a distraction],' he told The Rest is Football podcast. 'You're in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you're not quite realising that. But as you get older and gain experience along the way, you know that comes with it and 95 per cent of it is just noise. You hear it, course you do. You can't help not [hearing it]. You know it's there but you've got to use it in a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.'
However, Merson advised caution on signing Rogers. 'You have to be careful with that one. If Odegaard plays to his best ability, and Morgan Rogers does, there can't be that much between them, surely. It's only because, at the moment, Odegaard's not playing as well, but Odegaard's still young. He's a top, top player. So for me, it's one of those situations where I'd be careful.'
Merson was speaking to Metro after his appearance at the Football Arcade at Immersive Gamebox in Southbank, the world's first immersive VR football game. 'It was an incredible day out with my boy,' Merson said. 'The technology and the games are amazing so I'd definitely recommend everyone to come down and give it a try themselves.'
