Since taking on over six years in the past, Mikel Arteta has been instrumental in a whole transformation at Arsenal.
His tactical method and philosophy had been a part of the membership’s overhaul from a sleeping big to a workforce anticipated to win the Premier League, however his transfer was equally vital.
The Spaniard hasn’t at all times achieved nicely available in the market, however he has overseen the signing of proficient gamers resembling Declan Rice, Julian Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya and membership captain Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian has solely began to get again to his greatest this season and, if stories are to be believed, Arsenal have already recognized potential signings to switch him long-term.
Arsenal trying to substitute Odegaard
It is no secret that final season was an underwhelming one for Odegaard, to say the least.
Maybe due largely to his ankle damage, the Norwegian was removed from his wayward greatest and struggled to affect matches as he had in earlier seasons.
Happily, though he nonetheless has to take care of damage points this 12 months, the captain is beginning to appear like the midfield basic who received back-to-back Participant of the Season awards.
For instance, FBref ranks him within the high 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the Premier League this season for progressive passing, high 3% for shot creation actions, and high 4% for assists, all with a rating of 90.
So, with Odegaard returning to his influential self, but additionally set to show 28 this 12 months, it is sensible to know that the membership is eyeing a participant who might in the future substitute him long-term.
At the least that is based on a current report from TEAMtalk, which claims Arsenal nonetheless have an enormous curiosity in Arda Guler.
In reality, stories counsel that the north Londoner has been in touch with the participant’s camp on numerous events just lately, significantly within the final month, over the potential of a transfer sooner or later.
However the unhealthy information for the Gunners is that, based on stories, the Turkish prodigy has made it clear that he needs to stay at Actual Madrid in the meanwhile.
That mentioned, issues might change within the coming months and years, and given Guler’s immense potential and potential, Arsenal ought to proceed to pursue him, particularly as he may very well be the right long-term successor to Odegaard.
Why Guler is a dream to switch Odegaard
So the very first thing to say is that if his current performances are something to go by, Odegaard is again to his greatest and there’s no want to switch him.
Nonetheless, he is because of flip 28 on the finish of the 12 months, so it could be clever for Arsenal to think about who may very well be his long-term alternative and supply competitors for uncooked choices in Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman.
That is the place Guler seems. Though he’s nonetheless within the early levels of his profession, there are a number of explanation why he already appears to be like like he may very well be a dream choice for the Gunners.
The primary is that he already reveals the identical positional orientation because the Norwegian.
For instance, he can and has performed in a number of roles, however has spent most of his time in attacking midfield or on the fitting flank, suggesting he might play a proper midfield function beneath Arteta.
Along with this, the 20-year-old has additionally proven the flexibility to not solely deal with excessive stress, however thrive beneath it.
He has already made 89 first-team appearances for Los Blancos, taking part in a complete of 4,305 minutes, scoring 15 objectives and offering 19 assists.
This works out to be a wonderful common of being concerned in a purpose each 2.61 video games, or each 126.61 minutes, which might be spectacular for a veteran not to mention a younger participant.
As if that wasn’t sufficient, he additionally grew to become Turkey’s subsequent large hope, amassing a document of six objectives and 6 assists in simply 26 senior caps.
Final however not least, the Ankara-born expertise, described by content material creator Neil Gardner as “the only greatest CM/AM candidate in world soccer proper now,” additionally has spectacular numbers to his title.
In line with FBref, amongst attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s high 5 leagues, he ranks within the high 1% for anticipated help objectives, accomplished passes, progressive passes and key passes, and within the high 3% for shot creation actions, all with 90 factors.
Guler’s scouting report | ||
|---|---|---|
statistics | round 90 | percentile |
xAG: Experimental Assisted Objective | 0.41 | High 1% |
progressive path | 7.65 | High 1% |
Move completion fee | 85.8% | High 1% |
Complete distance traveled | 987.66 | High 1% |
Progressive passing distance | 262.51 | High 1% |
key cross | 3.29 | High 1% |
advance to the ultimate third | 6.42 | High 1% |
by way of ball | 0.91 | High 1% |
contact | 77.47 | High 1% |
Actions that create pictures | 6.03 | High 3% |
All stats through FBref | ||
FBref additionally ranks Odegaard because the primary attacking midfielder or winger most much like the teenager in Europe’s high 5 leagues, which enormously helps his suitability as a long-term successor.
On the finish of the day, it may very well be an extremely tough transfer to recover from the road in a brief period of time, however Arsenal ought to proceed to pursue Guler as he has the potential to turn into a megastar sooner or later.
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