Arsenal scouts “frequently visited” €60 million Bundesliga star as Martin Odegaard’s praise sparks transfer push
Arsenal’s recruitment model under sporting director Andrea Berta has consistently blended elite-level readiness with long-term projection.
The latest name to emerge fits that blueprint precisely: Antonio Nusa, the Norwegian international currently developing at RB Leipzig.
According to reports from Fussball Daten, as relayed by TEAMTALK, Arsenal scouts have “frequently visited the Red Bull Arena” to monitor the 20-year-old winger in action. The interest is longstanding, dating back to his time at Club Brugge, and it reflects a consistent evaluation process rather than opportunistic market movement.
This is not a reactive pursuit. Arsenal have monitored Nusa for over two years. The current interest suggests an internal belief that he is approaching the threshold where projection meets readiness.
Whether Berta moves decisively may depend on market dynamics – and whether Arsenal see him as rotation depth or a long-term starting profile.
Why Nusa fits the profile
Arsenal’s left-sided attacking options currently revolve around Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Martinelli has started just seven Premier League matches this season and has attracted links with Barcelona, while Trossard, despite contributing five goals and five assists, is now 31. The strategic need is clear: succession planning without sacrificing competitiveness.
Nusa’s output this season – three goals and three assists in 22 matches – does not yet scream elite productivity. However, context matters. During the 2024/25 campaign, he operated on both flanks, registering five goals and eight assists across 40 appearances. His versatility, age profile and ceiling align with Arsenal’s broader squad evolution.
Crucially, he is not merely a statistical acquisition. Nusa is viewed as a high-variance, high-potential winger capable of destabilising defensive structures through direct dribbling and acceleration. Leipzig’s tactical environment, with its emphasis on transitional speed and aggressive pressing, has refined his decision-making in high-tempo sequences.
One factor that adds an intriguing layer to Arsenal’s interest is the endorsement of Martin Odegaard.
Speaking in 2023, the Arsenal captain told TV2:
“He is an incredibly exciting player. You see it, every time he gets the ball, it’s exciting. He is still young and will get even better.”
That assessment carries weight. Ødegaard’s tactical intelligence and positional awareness have been central to Arsenal’s attacking structure. His praise speaks not only to Nusa’s flair but also to his potential to mature within a system that values spatial understanding as much as individual brilliance.
In recruitment terms, peer validation from within the national setup often accelerates internal conviction. It reduces adaptation risk – particularly culturally and linguistically – and enhances dressing-room integration.
The financial equation
RB Leipzig are reportedly willing to consider offers in the €50–60 million range. However, that figure could escalate dramatically – potentially to €90 million – should Nusa impress for Norway at the 2026 World Cup.
Such structuring is typical of Leipzig’s model: develop, showcase, sell at peak leverage. For Arsenal, timing becomes strategic. An early move reduces inflation risk but increases performance uncertainty. A delayed move offers clarity but potentially at a premium cost.
Arsenal are far from alone. Reports indicate that Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have regularly scouted Nusa. Newcastle United are also monitoring his development, while continental heavyweights such as AC Milan, Napoli and Atlético Madrid maintain interest.
For Tottenham and Villa, Nusa represents forward-line rejuvenation. For Arsenal, he would represent competitive reinforcement – a difference in strategic positioning that may ultimately influence the player’s decision.
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Arteta’s system relies heavily on controlled possession, positional rotation and structured pressing triggers. The left-wing role is not merely about width; it demands interior movement, defensive discipline and synchronisation with the left-back.
Nusa’s development in Germany has improved his off-ball intelligence, but integration into Arsenal’s positional play would require refinement. That said, his adaptability across both flanks increases squad fluidity – particularly in high-intensity schedules involving European competition.
What is clear is this: Arsenal are not merely adding names. They are shaping succession. And in Antonio Nusa, they see both present intrigue and future promise.
