He's our second-leading goalscorer and is even with Saka in goal contributions (14) in 700 fewer minutes. I'm not saying we need to move heaven and earth to keep him, but finding a replacement for him is going to be expensive.
Sorry if I butchered that. I don't really view him as a "very capable" scorer, I think he puts up middling stats for a striker on one of the best teams in La Liga. I'm saying he will score even less if you move him further away from goal at LW (and don't let him take penalties). And I don't think we'd be happy with such output. To your point tho, I can't really think of any players who, in the prime age years, moved from striker out to wing. Maybe younger players who score a lot in a weaker league move outside as they step up to a more physical league. More commonly wings move to striker as they lose pace.
Zubimendi was reported by Ornstein as being pretty much a done deal last February. So it can happen. I don't think it's the case here but I could be wrong.
Anyone watch enough of Atletico to explain why his scoring has fallen off a cliff? He had 29 goals in all comps last year but has 1 league goal (and it was a penalty) since the start of October this season.
It may be a tactical change as he's been dropping very deep and makes late runs into the box. The highlights of Madrid's destruction of Barcelona showed this. He was usually the 3rd or 4th runner in the box. Though, he did break his duck by getting a goal and assist in the game.
I think it is relevant to any Arsenal LW conversation that Trossard turned 31 in December. He doesn't play like it, but there it is.
He doesn't have a ton of minutes for someone his age though, which may help his longevity. Bruno Fernandes turned 31 in September and has 15,000 more club minutes plus another 3,500 senior international minutes. Sterling is 4 days younger and has 7,000 more at club level and 3,500 more internationally and he basically hasn't played in a year and a half. So it's definitely worth considering, especially when planning the team going forward (I think you'd be insane to choose Trossard over Martinelli regardless of how you rate them as players), but Trossard has a profile that I think will slow his inevitable decline.
He's so dangerous when he gets the ball with room to attack. He's so wasted when he's asked to dance in the corner after we walk the ball up the pitch.
Eh that's an if not a when. Unless he leaves for like Milan or a mid-top la liga team. I mena Antony was cheeks and all of a sudden he's top player in Spain.
Rumors are heating up again on Arsenal looking at Leao in the summer. If you were to look up a player that is the antithesis of Arteta's system, you'd see a picture of Leao. I don't see this happening. I also don't think he'd do nearly as well in the EPL where he wouldn't be as physically dominant.
Lmao is physically ideal for the EPL. The only issue is his defensive work and losing the ball. For Portugal, I would use him as a super sub. Not really a starter. He would be better than Noni though IMO.
Leao rumors would likely be agent-driven since we have off-season questions at his LW position. From what I've seen, Leao seems to lack the tactical discipline Arteta demands at both ends of the pitch. Even if he does meet Arteta's requirements, I don't see him coming at a reasonable fee and/or wages that would work for us.
I don't like the idea of signing any 26-27yo "name" winger from the continent that would cost a fortune. @leppercut made a point above about Antony putting up numbers after leaving England, we have the Bundesliga tax but I feel like it is stretching to all the big leagues. The aging curve is a lot harsher on wingers than other positions, it's a risk to be signing these guys into their 30's. Give me a rising 21 year old whose best years are in front of him instead.
Go get Yildiz. He's a younger, better (relative to league) Trossard. Only issue/concern is whether he adjusts to EPL. Or Barcola, Nusa or Fofana (Lyon) if you prefer speed.
Yildiz would be great. Though, both he and Barcola will cost plenty. Nusa and Fofana are cheaper but less talented.