Arsenal have reportedly received a blow in their chase of Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg as the Red Bull Leipzig wizard rubbished rumours of a rift with head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl. Arsenal previously tried to prize him away from the German outfit this January but their advances were rejected outright by the club, according to German football expert, Raphael Honigstein.
Forsberg has failed to replicate the level of performances he put in last season, with just a solitary goal and 2 assists in 17 league appearances this season and another 2 goals in the Champions League, as compared to the league high 19 assists he notched up last season as Leipzig stunningly finished second. Injuries have played their part in the Swede’s inconsistent form but rumors were rife that Forsberg had a fallout with the coach, all of which he squashed as he told The Express “No, I have a great relationship with my coach, I understand there will be speculation when I am not playing, but I am enjoying my time at the club. We will continue to write history and aim at winning the Europa League.”
While this may appear to be a blow to Arsenal, it probably isn’t. In Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Arsenal have two very good creative playmakers who play their best football in Forsberg’s preferred position. Although not an out and out playmaker or a midfield controller, Forsberg can play between an 8 and a 10 as well. However, that position is currently occupied by Wilshere who has been good this season and has qualities better suited to that role than Forsberg.
No doubt the addition of a player like Forsberg would definitely provide the Gunners with an edge over their opposition, but given the kind of form he is in, it might not be the best decision for them to go for him, especially when they already have other areas of concern to address with immediate effect.
Arsenal are in severe need of strong reinforcements in various areas of the pitch, most noticeably, the central midfield, central defence and goalkeeper. Spending heavily on a player whose position they are already stacked in would not be the best transfer for now and adding another attacking player would cause an overkill in the current squad.
Considering their pressing needs, it would be an unwise transfer and Forsberg’s comments shouldn’t be a huge blow to Arsenal and their transfer plans. So contemplating the comments of the 26 Y/O Swedish starlet, it might leave Arsene Wenger rather unperturbed, given the kind of quality he currently has in his side for the aforementioned position.
