Arsenal could regret selling underrated £35m ace

Arsenal have come a good distance in the previous couple of years.

Mikel Arteta took over a membership bereft of confidence and turned them into real title contenders due to his tactical concepts and the gifted gamers he helped signal.

Nevertheless, it will be truthful to say that in the meanwhile, the Gunners are struggling to search out their footing within the Premier League, with pointless suspensions, a swathe of accidents and lacklustre performances seeing them fall 9 factors behind league leaders Liverpool regardless of it solely being mid-November.

There are a number of points with the workforce in the meanwhile, however there may be one massive one that may’ve been solved, or no less than lessened, had the membership not sanctioned Unai Emery to promote an academy gem in 2019, a gem who’s now outperforming Cole Palmer and Mohamed Salah in a single key metric.

Arsenal’s 2019 summer season departures

So, earlier than we get to the participant in query, let’s take a look at one other participant who left Arsenal that summer season, Danny Welbeck.

The previous Manchester United star, who joined the Gunners for £16m in September 2014, wasn’t bought by the North Londoners; as an alternative, he left upon the expiration of his contract in June earlier than becoming a member of Watford on a free two months later.

Nevertheless, the 42-capped worldwide would battle in Hampshire, and after scoring simply three objectives in 20 appearances, his contract was terminated simply over a yr after he joined, which, on reflection, could effectively have been the most effective factor that would have occurred to him.

The previous United ace signed a one-year cope with Brighton & Hove Albion simply a few weeks after leaving the Hawthorns, and he is been there ever since, proving the adage that kind is momentary, however class is everlasting.

In his 138 appearances for the Seagulls to this point, the 33-year-old veteran has scored 32 objectives and offered ten assists, equating to a median of a objective involvement each 3.28 video games.

Nevertheless, whereas we’re certain Arteta would recognize having such an skilled ahead within the squad in the meanwhile, he isn’t the previous Arsenal participant in query.

The previous Arsenal star beating Palmer and Salah

Let’s get proper to the purpose, then. The previous Arsenal participant who bought in 2019 and is at present beating Salah and Palmer in a vital metric this season is Alex Iwobi.

Sure, the Nigerian worldwide who was bought to Everton for £35m 5 years in the past after which moved to Fulham 4 years later is the participant in query, and the metric in query is passes into the penalty space.

In reality, based on FBref, the Hale Finish graduate’s 31 passes into the opposition’s penalty space this season isn’t solely probably the most in your complete Premier League however probably the most in Europe’s prime 5 leagues, with Lamine Yamal coming in as an in depth second with 30 passes.

Compared, Liverpool’s Egyptian king has performed simply 21 such passes, whereas Chelsea’s younger celebrity has performed 19.

The Fulham maestro’s skill to string the ball into harmful areas for his teammates to take advantage of has earned him two assists in simply 11 league video games this season.

Nevertheless, based on FBref, his playmaking and passing skill have seen him produce an anticipated assists determine of three.2 to this point.

In distinction, the highest-ranking Arsenal participant for passes into the penalty space is, unsurprisingly, Bukayo Saka, though he solely has 16 to his identify and following him is Thomas Partey with 13 and Gabriel Martinelli with a measly ten.

Furthermore, the Gunners’ mercurial quantity seven is their solely participant to supply extra assists within the league this season than the Cottagers’ dynamic winger, which might clarify the North Londoners’ underwhelming assault to this point this yr.

In the end, whereas Arsenal acquired an affordable payment for Iwobi 5 years in the past, it is clear that they may use his newfound creativity outwide, and whereas he would not essentially be a starter, we’re certain Arteta needs Emery hadn’t bought him when he did.