Arsenal have made a decent start to their Premier League campaign, having made a couple of brilliant signings in the summer transfer window. Arsene Wenger will be happy with the way his team has bounced back from failing to qualify for Europe and is now aiming high, trying to add more quality and go for the kill this summer.
Transfer story
The Gunners are on the verge of losing Chilean playmaker Alexis Sanchez before the deadline day as reports claim that they are not ready to give in to his wage demands. This has left the manager in search of another winger for the campaign and one name that is now doing the rounds is Juan Cuadrado.
Having failed in his bid to lure AS Monaco star Thomas Lemar to the Emirates, Arsene Wenger is now looking at a more experienced star in Cuadrado, who has previously played in the Premier League for fellow-London outfit Chelsea.
However, the Colombian international did not have the best times of his career at Stamford Bridge and spent more than half of his time with the club on loan at Juventus. He did help the Italian outfit lift two Serie A titles and also took them to the Champions League, Antonio Conte, the current Chelsea boss, decided not to keep him at the club, and allowed him to join Juventus on a permanent, long-term deal, just this summer.
Cuadrado and his experience
At 29, Cuadrado is one of the most experienced and established wingers in world football at the moment and has been in terrific form for Juventus recently. He picked up six assists and two goals in 30 league appearances last season and is expected to play a decent role for the side this season as well.
Quick, athletic and smart, the former Udinese man is a bag of tricks, who is hard to mark. Comfortable on the left-wing, Cuadrado can also play through the middle and is a player who loves to create chances in the final third. He is happy to defend and wait for the break but is creative and is at his best in the final third.
Is he the right man for Arsenal?
He made just 13 appearances for Chelsea, and though failed to impress, was just not given enough time to adjust to the conditions of the league. He will surely be a more effective player at the Emirates but going from Lemar to Cuadrado is not the best thing for Arsenal.
The Juventus man is now 29 and is not a long term option. Wenger will know that spending on him will push him into the transfer market in just a couple of years and it is not something he is accustomed to doing. So it is better for him to look elsewhere for a replacement for Sanchez.