Transfer Story:
Arsenal had a pretty decent transfer window where the Gunners signed Henrikh Mkhitaryan on a swap deal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the final day of the transfer window. So far this season, Wenger’s men have been lacklustre though they have proceeded to the finals of the Carabao Cup.
A qualification to the Champions League looks a bit difficult and so the usually passive Arsenal board has been making plans for the next transfer window already. And, if the reports are to be believed then Kerem Demirbay from Hoffenheim is one of the main targets for Arsenal.
Player Profile:
Having played for Schalke 04 early on in his career, Demirbay shifted to Borussia Dortmund later. He played for their junior teams and went through a number of stages to prove his credentials. The 24-year old is a central midfielder and plays for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Demirbay is a left-footed player and generally thrives on playing in a right-sided midfield position. His ability to make diagonal runs from deep areas and his ball-carrying tendency make him a potent threat in the midfield. Demirbay can be equally impressive from set pieces and has a knack for scoring some breathtaking free-kick goals.
The Numbers Game:
In his 15 appearances in the German Bundesliga, he has scored twice and has created 26 goal-scoring chances for his teammates. Demirbay’s decision-making in the final third is impressive, as he always tends to pick the right man inside the box. On the defensive front, Demirbay has won 42% of his duels, which is a decent stat for a creative midfielder.
He has won 41% of his tackles, demonstrating his tendency to put in a shift. He backtracks regularly according to the demands of the game but is usually given the attacking freedom.
Do the Gunners need him?
Arsenal just signed Auba and Mkhitaryan, and have significantly bolstered their attack. However, now it would be wiser to invest in some of the other glaring deficiencies in Arsenal’s squad. Petr Cech is ageing, Koscielny won’t be around forever and Granit Xhaka has flattered to deceive.
These three positions need to be of primary importance when the transfer window opens this summer. Arsenal’s defensive frailties have been well documented and it would be important to pay heed to that area of the pitch too.
A holding midfielder can actually help Jack Wilshere who is waiting to break free from his shackles. Rather, the Englishman has been forced to win the ball back in the deep areas; something that he does to cover for Xhaka’s inability to put in clean and safe challenges on a consistent basis.
It will be interesting to see how the scenario pans out in the summer with the board getting a significant amount of time to evaluate their options.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
