When Bukayo Saka was dominated out following a nasty hamstring harm in direction of the again finish of 2024, there was collective anguish amongst Arsenal supporters.
Saka is their star boy, a beaming ray of sunshine in an in any other case struggling entrance line. Wrestle, they most actually did after his harm.
Whereas it allowed Ethan Nwaneri a stage by which to persistently shine, their choices on the left-hand facet did not all the time ship.
In 2022/23 Gabriel Martinelli scored as many as 15 objectives. In 2023/24, Leandro Trossard discovered the web on 17 events. But, the season of 2024/25 was not as variety to the Brazilian and the Belgian, even when the previous did rating towards Actual Madrid.
Certainly, throughout 51 video games and 56 video games respectively, the pair of wingers solely scored ten objectives every. It is secure to say this wanted to be higher with Saka out and the dearth of a recognised centre ahead.
So, it’s unsurprising to study that Mikel Arteta desires to strengthen his choices on the flank this summer season.
How Arsenal may strengthen out vast this summer season
One among Arsenal’s precedence targets this window seems to be Actual Madrid winger Rodrygo with the Brazilian attracting severe curiosity from Andrea Berta and Co.
New reviews over the weekend recommend that everybody on the membership is aligned on the truth that the 24-year-old is the ‘superb profile’ for Arsenal and because of this, they may launch a £59m bid within the coming weeks.
If a transfer fell via, then the Gunners do produce other irons within the hearth. One among them might be AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.
That is in keeping with Caught Offside, who, amid curiosity from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, recommend that Arsenal and Chelsea are additionally taken with signing the Portuguese winger this summer season.
Berta’s curiosity isn’t mentioned to be severe but however competitors for a participant valued at round £84m is evidently fierce. Chelsea have reportedly already held talks over a attainable swoop.
How Leao compares to Rodrygo
From a objective risk alone, Rodrygo could be a greater signing right here. In any case, in 2022/23, he scored as many as 19 objectives, proving he is aware of what it takes to interrupt down a defence.
Leao, alternatively, has additionally been a constant scorer of objectives however is but to actually explode, so to talk. Coincidentally, one of the best season of his profession additionally got here in 2022/23, the place he beat the goalkeeper on 16 events.
Since then, the Milan ahead’s kind has been a bit inconsistent, scoring 12 objectives and supplying 13 assists this season, however his profile is really scary, a lot in order that he reminds a few of the nice Thierry Henry.
Certainly, again in 2022, Milan coach Stefano Pioli mentioned: “Leao jogs my memory lots of the early Thierry Henry, who began vast then got here inside.”
Possessing lengthy strides and the power to beat any defender in world soccer, Leao so usually scampers down the left earlier than chopping onto his favoured proper foot and making one thing occur, simply as Henry did when he first got here to Arsenal.
It is that form of profile that makes him the dream different to Rodrygo.
|
Rodrygo vs Leao (2022/23-2024/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90 minutes) |
Rodrygo |
Leao |
|
Objectives |
0.34 |
0.40 |
|
Assists |
0.24 |
0.31 |
|
Shot on track % |
36% |
36% |
|
Key passes |
1.91 |
2.06 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.76 |
4.12 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
4.71 |
4.60 |
|
Succesful take-ons |
2.56 |
2.64 |
|
Progressive carries |
5.63 |
5.20 |
|
Stats through FBref. |
||
If we evaluate their numbers from essentially the most profitable seasons of their profession up to now to the tip of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, you do get a flavour for simply how comparable their playstyles are.
So far as dribbling and creating alternatives go, there’s not a lot between them, with Rodrygo popping out barely on prime for progressive carries however Leao the higher for progressive passes.
A cross is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the subsequent contact is at the very least 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s objective or any accomplished cross into the penalty space.
What does separate them, nonetheless, is that Henry-like fashion.
Standing at 5 foot 9, Rodrygo is the extra diminutive of the 2 gamers and could be extra of an Alexis Sanchez sort. Leao, alternatively, is 6 foot 2. Now, everyone knows Arteta loves somebody of a taller construct and thus, the Portugal worldwide seems like a dream profile right here.
That additional energy and tempo is simply what Arsenal want on the left flank.
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