Arsenal can complete Gabriel Jesus replacement transfer on one condition after brutal snub

If Arsenal ever were to sign Marcus Rashford then this summer is surely the time. Perhaps not for the expected reasons, either.

Whilst the Gunners have been regularly linked with Manchester United's homegrown prodigy, it has never felt particularly likely. Not least because for a decent amount of time even Manchester United were actually performing better than Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

The foundations have rarely (maybe never) been more stable than at the Emirates Stadium, but Rashford has had his fair share of Champions League football and opportunities to win trophies amid the chaos. For the last two years the scenario has been completely different.

Even if Erik ten Hag did steady the ship briefly at Old Trafford, leading Rashford and United back into Europe's elite competition for another season as well as reaching the latter stages of the Europa League, getting to the FA Cup final and lifting the Carabao Cup, the tumult has been obvious,

Rashford's form across a number of years now has been patchy rather than consistent. He has failed to score 10 league goals in consecutive seasons since 2020, yet when he fires is near unstoppable. It is the allure that has kept him involved with England throughout much of the past eight years since his debut despite low points.

Now, having been left out of Gareth Southgate's enormous 33-man preliminary squad ahead of Euro 2024, he is at a crossroads again. The 26-year-old only signed a new contract with his boyhood club in August but followed it up with his second-lowest goals tally since emerging as a first-team option. He is now an outcast to his own fanbase.

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Supporters have taken umbrage to his attitude on and off the field and things came to a head during Arsenal's 1-0 win against United earlier this month when he was confronted ahead of kick-off for a game he wasn't even starting. His stock is now at its lowest since he became a global star, and there are those at Old Trafford who genuinely want him out.

Where do Arsenal come into this? Well, the historic links play a part, as does the summer reshuffle in Arteta's squad that is likely to follow a series of sales in order to boost financial standing. But when a player of Rashford's calibre is in this sort of strife, it is only natural to wonder.

His football isn't doing much selling right now but he wouldn't be the first player to require some love and be granted that under Arteta (stage direction, pan to Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard). It was only 12 months ago that Rashford had come off the back of scoring 20 times for United during their promising first season under Ten Hag.

At that stage he would surely have been seen as a valuable addition for Arsenal before they went on to sign Kai Havertz. Rashford would likely have been a popular pick as well at the time. How things change, how fast they shift, and how unrelenting it all is.

Although very different players, Havertz and Rashford are versatile in their own ways and bring skills that aren't too common at the top level when apparent in full flow. Just like before, there is reason to suggest that Rashford is only a spurt of confidence away - much like Havertz again - from showing what all the fuss is and has been about.

If Arsenal were to look at Gabriel Jesus and believe an upgrade is necessary in the coming window then Rashford does make some sense. With Southgate leaving him free for the summer it opens up a clear path towards getting a deal done.

There is no international distraction and pre-season would roll on through at a good time for all involved. Rashford would be able to arrive without the glaring attention of having played a part in a major tournament for England - though the move would obviously get a lot of coverage and criticism.

Rashford isn't in his spot as a player right now but the circumstances around him have never been as presentable. If Arsenal want to act on instinct then the time is now.