Arsenal’s 0-0 draw against Leeds on Matchday 9 drove a few home truths for boss Mikel Arteta as he aims to rebuild at the Emirates Stadium and lead Arsenal into a new dynasty.
Not only did Arsenal ride their luck with Leeds hitting the woodwork on three occasions, but it was a game which exposed the frailties that Mikel Arteta currently has within his attack, most notably in the creative department.
In comparison to Leeds’ 25 shots on goal, Arsenal only recorded 9, with two on target. It was a game in which Arsenal yet again failed to create any real openings to win the match. Arteta sprung a few tactical tweaks such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starting up-front but to no avail with the Gabon international only recording just the single shot on target.
If Arsenal are to get back to scoring ways, they need to get their main man firing again, but that also means the players around him must improve their efficiency and cutting edge in the final third.
Aubameyang hasn’t scored from open play since his well-worked team goal against Fulham on the opening day, but the support and quality of chances created for him has been threadbare, lackluster but also non-existent.
The majority of the Arsenal faithful are still miffed as to Mesut Ozil’s absence from the squad, seeing as he is arguably Arsenal’s most creative contingent.
What’s also causing Arteta to lose sleep is that his side’s struggles in front of goal this season, they’ve only scored just 10. The draw at Elland Road made it 500 minutes without a goal from open play, a poor stat considering the quality Mikel Arteta holds in his attacking weaponry.
But its not enough. Arsenal need solutions, and fast.
With the January window yet to open for another month, Mikel Arteta will surely be planning ahead, identifying the players who could ignite the fire in Arsenal’s attacking play.
Arsenal have already been linked with a number of players so far, but here’s three options Arteta should seriously consider recruiting in the immediate future:
Dominik Szoboszlai
A player who’s name has been shepherded all around Europe right now, and rightly so. Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai is a player blessed with such tremendous skill, technical acumen and a range of qualities marking him as the perfect candidate to the fill the creative void at the Emirates.
So far this season, Szoboszlai has provided the highlight reels for both club and country, and few will have noticed his thunderous strike for Hungary in the UEFA Nations League tie against Iceland, a long-range rocket in the Champions League against Lokomotiv Moscow and a peach of a strike against Atletico Madrid.
RB Salzburg Jesse Marsch has already admitted he could lose his star name in the upcoming January transfer window, and if the 20-year-old carries on in this vein of form, then there’s no reason why he can’t join his former teammates Erling Braut Haaland and Takumi Minamino amongst Europe’s elite.
Szoboszlai’s current contract at Salzburg reportedly holds a release clause of 25m euros (£22.5m), a relatively cheap fee for a player with such unique qualities. Arsenal should jump at that price in January.
Szoboszlai holds all the characteristics needed to thrive in the Premier League. Most of all, his application, attitude and hard-work have been a real feature of his game so far this season. But we also know his technical qualities: a player who works best with the ball at his feet.
Whether lining up on the left of midfield, at no.10 or as a free-roaming no.8, Szoboszlai is a magician in possession. His tendency to roam inside, and pick up smart positions between the lines, from there, orchestrating intricate, incisive, and disguised through balls, accurate switches of play, and driving runs from deep all cause huge issues for opposition defences. He’s already got 5 assists to his name in 8 games in the Austrian Bundesliga, signs of a player well-versed in the art of creating opportunities.
Arsenal don’t currently possess a player with such characteristics, someone who can take risks, operating in tight areas or even having a pop at goal from awkward positions, these are regular features of Szoboszlai’s game.
The Hungarian is also a set-piece master from free-kicks and corners, always willing to put some whip, pace and cutting-edge into his set-pieces.
At 20-years-old, Dominik Szoboszlai isn’t showing any real signs of weakness, and he is currently one of the most renowned midfielders in Europe. If Arsenal are serious about solving their creative deficiencies, then Dominik Szoboszlai is the perfect candidate to drive them forward.
Houssem Aouar
Arsenal came close to signing Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar in the summer window, only for the French club to decide at the last minute that they weren’t willing to sell.
However, that looks like its going to change some time soon with the talented French international the subject of some disciplinary issues so far this campaign.
It’s clear Aouar no longer wants to be at the club, but his lack of professionalism could scupper a future move away, however Arsenal are desperate and an injection in midfield is significantly required.
Houssem Aouar represents the kind of addition, many of the elite sides in Europe would kill for.
Aouar is a meticulous ball-player, harnessing the uniqueness of when to hold on to the ball, and when to release it. His amazing sense of gravity and close control means its difficult for his markers to have an understanding of where he’s going or when to dispossess him.
The midfielder also holds such fantastic spatial awareness and capacity to switch directions in an instant. If he finds there’s nowhere to go when dribbling, he’ll instantly change direction with a swift drop of the shoulder and such crisp close control.
Whenever, the ball is at Aouar’s feet, his teammates know something special is about to happen especially within the attacking third. Per 90 last season he averaged 5.32 passes into the final third. Stats serving as a true indication as to his incredible expertise in creating chances, further shown through his 3.04 shot-creating actions too.
Despite his minor disciplinary issues this season, he’s still sprung up impressive numbers. He’s played 8 Ligue 1 games, scoring twice and registering an assist, but its his more detailed stats that has highlighted his work both on and off the ball:
As soon as he picks up the ball, he already has a picture of what he’s going to do, whether to dribble past opponents, or dissect an eye of the needle pass to his forwards. No matter the amount of opponents around him, Aouar holds the balance, silky footwork and quickness of thought required to conjure up magic despite being under pressure.
His ball-carrying capabilities could prove vital to Arsenal’s system, allowing them to get out of trouble but most importantly in creating opportunities and openings in the final third.
Aouar has managed 362 yard progressive runs per 90, as well as averaging 2.40 successful dribbles this season. Also, his shot-creating average has improved vastly from last seasons record of 3.13 in Ligue 1 highlighting his stark growth when building attacks.
Houssem Aouar is a meticulous and imaginative number 8, and if 4-3-3 really is Arteta’s preferred formation once he does improve on his creative outlets them the French international could potentially fit in seamlessly:
Odsonne Edouard
Odsonne Edouard is a player on his way to international stardom. A move to the Premier League is certainly on the horizon for the French under-21 international and there’s no reason why he can’t join Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal revolution.
The Celtic no.9 could be the face of the new dynasty, the key ingredient in the jigsaw and the perfect already-made replacement for Aubameyang when he starts to wane. Odsonne Edouard is a uniquely gifted forward, a player who is set apart from the rest. He isn’t your traditional striker, one who is well-versed at holding up the ball, bringing his fellow teammates into play as well as finding the back of the net.
Despite the latter being remarkable feature of Edouard’s game, he is in fact a no.9 and a no.10 all rolled into one, and his stats for Celtic certainly paint that picture. Already this season, he’s got eight goals to his name in 15 outings. Five in the Scottish Premiership, and three in Europe.
But there’s more to Edouard than just his goals, he is Celtic’s creator-in chief, a player built for the sheer differentiating responsibilities at his disposal and a player certainly well deserving of the role. Edouard is an elegant, multi-functional player.
The Frenchman oozes confidence, and quality when he steps on the pitch. Up-front maybe his natural position, but his contributions and influence in attack run deeper than that.
He loves to drop into the half-space to exchange passes before moving into spaces vacated by the defence. While its so effective and complimentary of Celtic’s attacking play, it is also bamboozling for opposing defenders, they are often left confused as to who to pick up.
Edouard’s dribbling abilities emerge from his South American roots. He is rarely exuberant or the showboating type with it, but he exhibits an effective use of his control in tight spaces and a technique which few players in the Scottish division can match. It’s abilities such as this, and his fantastic movement, link-up play that makes him such a dangerous commodity within the final third.
This season, he has come in for some criticism and made a scapegoat for Celtic’s poor form so far, but the fact that’s he still a couple hits from reaching double figures tells you all you need to know about his qualities in front of goal. He is also the French Under-21 all-time top scorer, a remarkable feat for the forward.
There is the odd talk of him leaving in the close future but with no disrespect to the Scottish Premiership, Odsonne Edouard has already outgrown the whole division, into his fifth season at the club. The Frenchman is a remarkably talented prospect, a complete centre-forward boasting all the attributes needed to thrive at the top level.
The Frenchman will certainly have a lot of suitors but he’d represent a fantastic addition to the Arsenal setup. He’s young, skillful, vibrant, hard-working and a humble character as well as his unique abilities on the pitch. Don’t think Arteta needs any more reasons to jump at the chance in recruiting him at the Emirates.
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