Arsenal have proved to be a day late and a greenback quick this season, with accidents and the after-effects of dithering within the switch market leaving Mikel Arteta with one other trophyless marketing campaign.
However progress is hardly a linear factor in soccer, and solely the blind or negligent would fail to notice the immense positive aspects the Gunners have remodeled the previous 5 years. Now, although, it is time for motion.
A luckless yr on the harm entrance might need fashioned the crux of the on-field points, however cautious strikes over the approaching months might see the north Londoners go from power to power, having confirmed their credentials with a superb Champions League effort, outlined by the two-legged thrashing of Actual Madrid.
Signing an elite-level striker is a given, with extra wanted on the left and proper wings too. Making such strikes with confidence and readability might change lots for the outfit, particularly in bringing Martin Odegaard again into the ascendancy.
How Arteta can repair Martin Odegaard
Odegaard’s kind has been dissected advert nauseum this season, the Norwegian playmaker coming back from harm and nonetheless looking for that elusive flame that has powered his success since signing for the membership in August 2021 for £30m, having initially joined on mortgage earlier that yr.
Context is vital, and never solely have Arsenal been disrupted by an overload of accidents, one of the crucial damaging involved the skipper, who returned in November after a number of months out however has struggled to get again into gear.
There’s nonetheless lots to love. As per FBref, Odegaard ranks among the many high 1% of Premier League midfielders this season for progressive passes and the highest 6% for shot-creating actions per 90, however his affect, decision-making and decisiveness have all left lots to be desired.
The 25-year-old’s ‘lack of journey’ is one thing he might want to rectify, however sporting director Andrea Berta can actually assist him by securing some new forwards to feed on Odegaard’s creativity.
He won’t be the precedence, however this one might assist restore the Scandinavian famous person.
Arsenal chasing £70m ahead
Based on GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal are within the combine for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, little question emboldened by the very fact he is a boyhood Gunners supporter.
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Because of that reality, it is alleged that the participant is ‘very open’ to transferring to the Emirates Stadium this summer time, giving Arsenal hope {that a} deal may very well be achieved in the event that they have been to ship in a suggestion.
Bournemouth are on the lookout for a £70m payment, which is probably going too tall, however the Ghanaian’s need to maneuver to the Emirates Stadium might assist Arteta as he searches for Bukayo Saka competitors on the fitting.
Arsenal are conserving tabs on the state of affairs, certain, however Manchester United are additionally large admirers and want a right-sided ahead greater than the Gunners.
Why Semenyo can repair Odegaard
Semenyo has been described as a goalscorer with “lethal precision” by Opta analyst Owurako Ampofo, two-footed and thus extremely laborious to learn.
He is a maverick, the trendy and fleet-footed profile required to make a distinction at Arsenal and add a dimension on which Odegaard can focus, tighten, to convey himself again into kind.
Aggressive and highly effective, Semenyo has been one of many predominant drivers for Bournemouth this season, scoring 11 objectives and supplying seven assists throughout all competitions.
A right-sided ahead won’t be Arsenal’s precedence, however there is no query a participant of Semenyo’s ilk would add the depth and dynamism that has been missing this season.
Ought to Saka fall to harm once more, for instance, it is paramount that competitors is prudently sourced to fight such a risk.
Described as a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Semenyo carries a sure likeness to Arsenal’s talisman, which might see him match snugly into Arteta’s system.
Furthermore, it arms Odegaard a brand new ahead to play with an intuitive understanding of his model of play. In fact, the truth that he is a ball-striking machine does not damage both.
As FBref file, Semenyo ranks among the many high 5% of Premier League positional friends this time period for photographs taken per 90 (3.57), emphasising his starvation for objectives, his starvation to affect.
The Ghana worldwide, moreover, just isn’t restricted to a single positional placement. Actually, his means to make out on the left and even in a extra central berth suggests Arteta might use him with Saka and Odegaard, a daunting thought for the Londoners’ opponents.
Semenyo – Bournemouth Stats by Place (24/25) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Place | Apps | Targets | Assists |
Proper winger | 19 | 7 | 2 |
Left winger | 19 | 3 | 5 |
Centre-forward | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Stats by way of Transfermarkt | |||
Semenyo would not be the solvent of Arsenal’s inconsistencies by himself, particularly if ferried about quite a few positions, however he might plug some yawning holes and latch onto Odegaard’s playmaking.
His multi-tooled model of play is additional outlined by his means to attain from each angle. As per Sofascore, Semenyo has scored 5 Premier League objectives together with his left foot, 4 together with his proper. He is missed 12 large possibilities, so he is not essentially the most correct shooter within the enterprise, however given the staggering variety of photographs he likes to get off, a slight profligacy may be forgiven.
Particularly if he is being equipped by Odegaard on the high of his recreation. The £240k-per-week midfielder’s return to the fore is a matter of time, make no mistake about that.
However his points throughout the present yr, accidents apart, are a part of a wider Arsenal downside that may very well be solved fairly merely via the acquisition of a brand new centre-forward, plus two wingers, one for both aspect.
In fact, within the Cherries winger, Arsenal get one who can compete on each flanks and has confirmed himself an ready goalscorer both method. Having created 11 large possibilities and received 6.3 duels per recreation too, he is very a lot that high-level athlete, each combative and inventive, who might have a marked influence on the Arsenal resurgence, which possibly, simply possibly, will see Arteta’s mission attain apotheosis.
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