We would say it most years, however this time, it feels notably true: this summer time goes to be a large one for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect discovered themselves ending runners-up within the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season and ended a fifth marketing campaign operating with no main trophy.
So, whereas retaining their star gamers match and on the pitch goes to be key to lastly getting over the road subsequent season, it is simply as essential that Andrea Berta and Co assist the supervisor by bringing in some sensible abilities within the coming weeks and months.
The excellent news is that, primarily based on current reviews, that appears to be taking place, because the Gunners have now been linked with a midfield destroyer who’s gained comparisons to the legendary Patrick Vieira.
Arsenal’s midfield mix-up
Whereas followers and pundits alike are calling for Arsenal to exit and signal a brand new quantity 9 and not less than one winger – understandably so – it is arguably simply as necessary that the membership usher in some midfield reinforcements.
In spite of everything, Jorginho left to affix Flamengo and, primarily based on current reviews from Fabrizio Romano, the talks over a brand new contract for Thomas Partey are usually not advancing, and the potential for him leaving is now “concrete.”
Luckily, the Romano has additionally reaffirmed that the deal to signal Martin Zubimendi from Actual Sociedad is ready to proceed, with the membership providing round £51m set to be paid in installments.
But, that also means the Premier League runners-up can be quick a midfielder except they transfer forward to signal Lucien Agoumé.
Sure, in accordance to a current report from Spain, Arsenal have an interest within the Sevilla star.
The report claims that the Gunners see the younger Frenchman as a possible substitute for Partey, though to get him by means of the doorways, the Spanish aspect might want to purchase out the remaining 40% of his rights from Inter Milan.
It is unclear how a lot he would value Arsenal, however because the £17k-per-week gem joined the Andalusian aspect for €4m – £3.4m – final summer time, he may not value an excessive amount of.
Furthermore, with comparisons to Vieira and the potential for seeing him play with Zubimendi, this can be a deal price pursuing.
Why Agoume can be an amazing signing
So, earlier than taking a look at how he may complement and study from Zubimendi, it is price trying into this comparability to Vieira and the place it comes from, as the previous Invincible is undoubtedly considered one of Arsenal’s best gamers ever.
Effectively, on this occasion, it stems from the revered expertise scout Jacek Kulig, who accomplished a profile on the teenager all the way in which again in 2019, when he concluded that the star most just like his type of play was the Gunners’ former captain.
He got here to this conclusion by mentioning the mirrored strengths in his sport, akin to his skill to regulate the midfield by means of a mix of pinpoint correct passes and immense bodily and psychological energy.
These attributes have not left him within the years since that preliminary report both, with knowledge analyst Ben Mattinson waxing lyrical about him within the winter, describing him as somebody who’s “composed at dictating the tempo,” a “good dueller” on the bottom and within the air, and simply as importantly, is a primarily defensive midfielder who’s “very progressive.”
We are able to see quite a lot of this in his excellent underlying numbers, with FBref inserting him within the prime 3% of midfielders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for proportion of profitable take-ons, the highest 4% for tackles plus interceptions, the highest 5% for simply interceptions, the highest 9% for common shot distance, the highest 12% for targets per shot heading in the right direction and extra, all per 90.
Agoumé’s scout report |
||
---|---|---|
Statistics |
Per 90 |
Percentile |
Profitable Take-On % |
73.3% |
Prime 3% |
Tackles + Interceptions |
4.73 |
Prime 4% |
Interceptions |
1.75 |
Prime 5% |
Tackles (Mid third) |
1.58 |
Prime 6% |
Common Shot Distance |
15.00 |
Prime 9% |
Targets/Shot on Goal |
0.50 |
Prime 12% |
Aerials Gained |
1.79 |
Prime 13% |
Tackles |
2.98 |
Prime 14% |
So, if Partey goes to be leaving and Zubimendi goes to return in because the beginning six, that would create the right setting for the Sevilla ace to return in as an understudy to the Spaniard, study the function with out a lot stress and finally – maybe earlier than some would anticipate – start to supply some actual competitors.
Furthermore, given his similarities to Vieira in his tenacity and silky passing vary, there isn’t a motive he could not begin in a double pivot with the Sociedad star in sure video games or come off the bench to kind one when the workforce want to carry on to a lead.
In the end, the “extraordinary” ace, as dubbed by former Sevilla supervisor Enrique Sanchez Flores, may not be a family title simply but, however Agoumé seems like he is on observe to changing into one, and subsequently, Arsenal must be doing all they’ll to signal him now, earlier than his price ticket skyrockets this season.

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