According to The Sun, Arsenal are weighing up a move for BOCA Juniors star Cristian Pavon in the upcoming transfer window.
The Gunners are keen to shore up their attack in January and it is believed that they are ready to lodge a £40 million bid for Pavon, who looks set to leave his native Argentina next month. But is he a good option for Arsenal?
Cristian Pavon: Player profile
A Boca Juniors player since 2014, Pavon rose to prominence a couple of seasons ago when the winger was involved in 17 goals in 30 matches. He followed that up with an equally impressive campaign last season, which earned him a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad in the summer of 2018.
And despite a disastrous World Cup campaign, the 22-year-old has still managed to raise a lot of eyebrows this season, thanks to his consistent performances on the domestic front.
Pavon is a modern day winger who likes to cut inside in order to create spaces for himself in the final third. More often than not, he likes to take shots on goal instead of finding his teammates and it can be justified given his incredible shooting prowess.
Indeed, the 22-year-old has been involved in over 50 goals in less than 100 appearances for BOCA Juniors.
However, what makes Pavon such a sought-after talent in South American football is his work-ethic. His willingness to win the ball and to press the opposing players is an essential part of his gameplay, which surely makes him an appealing target for the Gunners.
An ideal fit under Emery
Arsenal have lacked incision in the final third following the departure of Alexis Sanchez earlier this year. Although the addition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette last season has significantly boosted their temerity in the final third, players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil have faltered this campaign.
And this is where Pavon comes into the fray. The Argentine, as discussed earlier, is a dynamic winger, who can act as the attacking spark in the final third.
His excellent productivity in front of goal has already attracted a lot of attention across Europe but more importantly, his ability to press the opposition will be useful for someone like Unai Emery.
Ideally, the Spaniard can utilise Pavon in the first line of the press, where the player’s tenacity and work ethic will help the Gunners attack put pressure on the opposing defenders, while his presence on the flanks will also make Arsenal much more dangerous on the counter.
