Arsenal have a vacancy in a crucial role. Martin Odegaard has returned to Real Madrid,
which leaves a creative hole in Mikel Arteta’s preferred 4-2-3-1.
Arsenal could, of course, try to sign Odegaard back as a permeant signing
and this would be an excellent move. But in the event that they cannot, who could replace him?
Odegaard was central to Arsenal’s ability to get the ball into dangerous areas. Although he
only played 866 minutes for Arsenal, no player played more passes per 90 that led directly to
a shot than Odegaard, and only Willian found an Arsenal teammate in the penalty area more per 90
Crucially, he was also second for Arsenal for goal creating actions per 90, one of the last two
actions like a pass or dribble, that immediately precede a goal; first, again, was Willian.
No Arsenal player created more shots.
Although there are still questions around Arteta’s tactical blueprint,
there’s no doubt that whatever system the side play, Arsenal need someone who can move the ball
into the penalty area, dominate the space between the opposition midfield and defensive lines,
and also weigh in with goals. Such a player would allow the striker to play further forward,
and play in the dynamic wide runners like Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, or Emile Smith-Rowe.
Although Smith-Rowe has played as a 10, he is more dynamic,
more of a running link player who flourished out wide and drifted there even when stationed
as a 10. He is also less experienced and has had significant injury issues.
At 28, Ruslan Malinovskyi likely has one big move left.
He’s a sumptuous playmaker, possessing the ability to play smart through passes in tight areas
or spread the play from a deeper position. Left-footed, like Odegaard,
he could sweep balls out to the left-hand side where Arsenal overlap dangerously through
Kieran Tierney, but he’s also comfortable opening up the right with his weaker foot.
Upright and elegant on the ball, Malinovskyi also adds a sprinkle of star quality to teams he plays
for, as well as versatility. At Atalanta, he’s an aggressive runner into the box
who scored eight last season, as well as registering 12 assists;
for Ukraine, he sits off more, orchestrating play behind the strikers.
His numbers bear out this versatility: for a 10, he scores and assists at a prolific rate,
while also carrying the ball dynamically and even adds a great deal of pressing in advanced areas.
Prising him away from Atalanta could be tricky, though, and much will depend on
Arsenal’s priorities. Atalanta finished third in Serie A and will again be competing in the
Champions League. They scored the most goals in the league last season and Malinovskyi was second
in the side for goals plus assists per 90, as well as 24th in Europe’s top five leagues for goal
creating actions per 90 and 9th for shot creating actions – he won’t be given up without a fight.
But Atalanta are a side who prepare for the future and selling on is part of their business model.
Florian Wirtz is possibly the future of Germany’s attacking midfield,
which means he wouldn’t come cheap. But if Arsenal are prepared to suck
up the significant cost and gazump the inevitable approach from Bayern Munich,
Wirtz could end up being their 2015-17 Mesut Ozil for the foreseeable future.
Wirtz is growing into his role at Leverkusen, a side that have had a disrupted season behind
the scenes. But he’s still managed 0.26 assists per 90 and 3.48 shot-creating
actions per 90, the only teenager in the Bundesliga’s top 30 for this metric,
while his other numbers stand up superbly given his age.
Wirtz has a lovely change of pace and the ability to duck his right shoulder to buy time and space
to thread through a pass or create room to shoot. Playing a little deeper, he can also spot the
opportunity to hit longer passes into the channels or over the top, or clip crosses in from wide.
Bursting forwards, he can play like a number 9, using his positional intelligence to finish off
moves. But it’s his work in tight spaces, and his ability to burst past the first defender
before finding the pass that few others can think of, let alone execute, that feels most Ozil-like.
Wirtz isn’t the finished article yet and at 18
no one would expect him to be. Arsenal’s priorities could lie elsewhere, too,
and so such a significant outlay on a player who’s still a teenager much be a reach. But Wirtz has
the potential to reach the game’s peak and would also address Arsenal’s issues in the short term.
Bordeaux are in serious financial trouble and may be subject to relegation to Ligue 2 for their
debts; this leaves their star assets vulnerable to low cost sales and Adli is a prime candidate.
The 6ft1 playmaker, who is only 20, thrives with the ball at his feet and is good at turning that
forward momentum into opportunities for clever through balls against retreating back-lines.
Bordeaux have mostly used Adli as an advanced 8 who will also drop off to use his long
passing from deep, but he frequently stations himself between the lines much as a 10 would.
This versatility means that he can be moulded to a degree, and his skill-set, the ball carrying,
good close control and technique, and vision mean that he could focus on becoming a dynamic 10.
His ability to change the angle of attacks by opening his body to shift passes on the move
or when stationary makes him an excellent fulcrum for transitioning attacks in the final third,
and he’s a good set piece taker and hard working off the ball as well.
Adli possesses great potential but his age and relative lack of experience
make this move a gamble. The upside, though, could be huge, bringing a versatile creative
playmaker to the club for a relatively low cost with his peak years ahead of him.