Arsenal’s season isn’t going as they’d envisaged. After two shut title races, this was the 12 months through which they had been presupposed to usurp Manchester Metropolis and convey house a primary Premier League crown since 2004. 20 lengthy years, how time flies.
Alas, that eventuality now appears to be like significantly unlikely following a string of horrible outcomes because the final worldwide break. A 2-2 draw with league leaders Liverpool final weekend is nothing to be ashamed of however defeats to Bournemouth – who’ve simply crushed Manchester Metropolis – and Newcastle in fast succession have left them with their tail between their legs.
The Gunners are faltering. Mikel Arteta has inquiries to reply. Arsenal want to enhance swiftly.
There have been two issues and so they’re somewhat giant ones. The Londoners’ defensive file isn’t what it was final season. They’ve conceded in six straight league video games now and their assault can be stuttering with out Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal’s faltering assault
With Odegaard lacking by means of damage for a lot of weeks now Arsenal have lacked a artistic spark, Bukayo Saka apart.
The Englishman is the division’s main help maker with seven in 9 video games and he has created a surprising 3.1 key passes per sport. The subsequent greatest is their Norwegian sensation with 1.7 earlier than all of it begins to look somewhat bleak.
Arsenal: Key passes per sport
Participant
Key passes (per sport)
1. Bukayo Saka
3.1
2. Martin Odegaard
1.7
3. Declan Rice
1.6
4. Jurrien Timber
1.3
5. Gabriel Martinelli
1.2
6. Leandro Trossard
0.9
7. Kai Havertz
0.8
Stats through WhoScored – 2024/25 PL Season
On account of this, it means Arteta’s facet are failing to create a excessive quantity of goalscoring alternatives. On that proof, is it actually any shock the likes of Martinelli and Trossard are struggling a lot?
Whereas Saka (4 objectives) and Havertz (7 objectives) have hit the bottom operating this season, their fellow attacking gamers are lagging behind.
Trossard and Martinelli have solely discovered the online two instances every and with Raheem Sterling not likely trusted to begin league video games, you do must surprise why Arsenal did not push tougher to signal a brand new winger in the summertime.
It was the apparent gap that wanted filling through the switch window however was comparatively ignored. Nico Williams was there however unattainable on the time and he very a lot stays a pretty proposition.
There is a answer doubtlessly mendacity within the Premier League too.
Arsenal’s Martinelli & Trossard answer
Again in the summertime of 2023, Arsenal had been linked with a transfer for Mohammed Kudus who was enjoying for Ajax on the time. The Gunners did not make their transfer however he did emerge in London, becoming a member of West Ham as a substitute.
Properly, a 12 months and a bit on from that saga, he is now being linked with an Arsenal swap once more. That comes courtesy of the Mirror who recommend that the Gunners are ‘lining up’ a possible £90m transfer for the winger over the winter.
The information comes with discuss of Trossard doubtlessly heading to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad aiming to signal the Belgian after failing with a mortgage transfer for him in the summertime.
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Whereas Kudus has not been a prolific goalscorer on the London Stadium – scoring 16 instances in 55 appearances – he would symbolize an improve in some ways on a few of their vast choices. This is what the numbers say from final season.
Kudus vs Trossard & Martinelli
Stat (per 90 minutes)
MK
LT
GM
Objectives
0.30
0.66
0.27
Assists
0.24
0.05
0.18
Key passes
1.08
1.31
2.05
Progressive passes
2.87
4.15
2.90
Shot-creating actions
3.75
3.55
4.11
Succesful take-ons
4.59
1.37
1.79
Profitable take-on %
57.1%
53.3%
35.1%
Progressive carries
4.32
3.61
5.67
Tackles gained
1.66
0.87
1.07
Stats through Fbref – 2023/24 season.
So, it is fairly straightforward to see the place Kudus could be an improve right here. Final season, he offered extra assists per 90 minutes than each Trossard and Martinelli, thus doubtlessly fixing a scarcity of creativity at the moment within the Arsenal squad.
Whereas Martinelli is streets forward when it comes to progressive carries, Kudus is much simpler together with his dribbling and take-on capacity. In that regard, he is extremely environment friendly and it is hardly a shock that analyst Ben Mattinson has stated he is “similar to Saka”.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s aim at the least 10 yards from its place to begin or is carried into the penalty space.
Each left-footed, they’re able to drifting inside from the right-hand facet and impacting video games. Nonetheless, Kudus has really primarily been used off Trossard and Martinelli’s favoured left-hand facet at West Ham, which means he may exchange the duo if he arrives on the Emirates Stadium.
Contemplating he does not outtrump the 2 gamers in each stat, £90m could be an extremely steep price to pay however Arsenal want extra vast choices and importantly, they want extra high quality within the ahead line. Kudus would deliver that in abundance.
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