Whether or not Arsenal get their arms on a marquee striker this summer time stays to be seen, however what is certain is that the Gunners aren’t simply going to be sitting round twiddling their thumbs over the following few months.
Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have an enormous activity on their arms: bringing in the proper gamers to assist the North Londoners take that remaining step and overtake Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.
What higher place to scout mentioned gamers than the European Championships?
So, it is unsurprising that one of many newest names touted for a transfer to N5 could possibly be a star on the match, and apparently, he shares loads of similarities with membership captain Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal switch information
In accordance with a report from Caught Offside earlier this week, Arsenal are one in every of a number of sides excited by Paris Saint-Germain’s younger star Xavi Simons and have already contacted the French facet to study extra.
Alongside the Gunners, the report claimed that Manchester United, Manchester Metropolis, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus have additionally made contact with the Parisians over the younger participant, valued at round €60m – £51m – per Spanish reports last month.
Nonetheless, not like United, for instance, the North Londoners have inquired about taking the 21-year-old on a season-long mortgage, which is sensible considering L’Équipe’s report last week that Luis Enrique’s facet weren’t eager to promote him this summer time on account of a clause that may see them pay a big portion of the charge to PSV.
It appears set to be an intense battle between a number of golf equipment to land the Dutchman’s providers this summer time, however given his unimaginable kind and similarities to Odegaard, Edu and Co should do what they’ll to emerge victorious.
Simons’ similarities to Odegaard
Now, as spectacular as Simons has been over the past couple of seasons, he has but to show himself at a serious membership or in a senior management function, so to check him to Odegaard, a captain at membership and worldwide stage, is loads, however there are a number of the reason why it is sensible.
The primary is that, regardless of his age, the Dutchman has been on the radar of main soccer golf equipment for years at this level and was courting consideration as the next big thing when he was a baby in Barcelona’s La Masia, which led to his move to PSG at simply 16 years outdated.
This situation is remarkably just like the Norwegian’s journey, as he emerged as the following wonderkid in his dwelling nation earlier than securing a much-publicised transfer to Real Madrid in 2015, additionally at simply 16 years outdated.
Furthermore, just like the Gunners’ ace, the Amsterdam-born “celebrity”, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, then needed to depart the tremendous membership he signed with a view to play, and now it appears like he might be a part of the North Londoners on an preliminary mortgage deal to get much more recreation time, which is precisely what occurred with the Drammen-born star in January 2021.
The ultimate similarity is that the pair are each positionally versatile.
The Gunners’ mercurial captain might begin the overwhelming majority of his video games in attacking midfield these days, but he’s started 82 games as a right-winger in his profession, 49 video games in central midfield, 13 video games on the left wing, and eight on the proper of midfield.
Likewise, the 21-year-old, whom Mattinson claims is “destined for greatness”, has started 43 games on the left wing, 28 on the proper, 26 in attacking midfield, ten as a centre-forward, and 5 in central midfield, which additionally means that Arteta would don’t have any bother becoming the distinctive expertise right into a group alongside the Norwegian.
|
Simons and Odegaard’s versatility |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Simons |
Odegaard |
||
|
Positions |
Appearances |
Positions |
Appearances |
|
Left Wing |
43 |
Attacking Midfield |
200 |
|
Proper Wing |
28 |
Proper Wing |
82 |
|
Attacking Midfield |
26 |
Central Midfield |
49 |
|
Centre-Ahead |
10 |
Left Wing |
13 |
|
Central Midfield |
5 |
Proper Midfield |
8 |
Finally, whereas there’s loads of competitors to land Simons’ signature this summer time, his spectacular kind for Leipzig final season – the place he racked up 25 goals and assists in 43 games – and his similarities to Odegaard make him a participant price combating for.
Who is aware of, Edu and Co might be able to flip his mortgage transfer right into a everlasting one like they did with the previous Actual ace.
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The “versatile” ace might assist the Gunners attain the following stage.
