Marcus Rashford of Manchester United in action (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a surprise loan move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford as they assess their options in the absence of Gabriel Martinelli.
The United attacker is currently back at Old Trafford following loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, with no permanent transfer materialising this summer.
According to the Independent, some industry insiders believe Arsenal could emerge as a potential destination for Rashford in the closing stages of the transfer window.
However, it remains uncertain whether Rashford will be available, as he appears to have been reintegrated into Michael Carrick’s squad for the upcoming season.
Would Marcus Rashford be a smart addition for Arsenal?
Some Arsenal supporters may feel hesitant about a potential move for Rashford, given the similarities it bears to the Raheem Sterling loan deal from two years ago.
Like Sterling at the time, Rashford appears to be past his peak and has struggled to hold down a regular starting spot at one of Arsenal’s main rivals.
That said, Rashford did manage to perform impressively during his loan spell at Barcelona last season, with his contributions earning him a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Arsenal’s need for a Martinelli replacement
Arsenal will almost certainly need to identify a replacement for Martinelli as his potential departure from the Emirates Stadium looms, with Christos Tzolis already brought in to fill the void left by Leandro Trossard.
Martinelli has not been at his sharpest for Arsenal in recent times, and Mikel Arteta would be left with limited depth in that area of the pitch should the Brazilian international move on.
Rashford may not be a universally popular choice, but he could provide a reliable squad option if no alternative becomes available in the final days of the window.
