According to Daily Mail, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the services of Wissam Ben Yedder. The AS Monaco forward is expected to leave the club in the summer, with the Gunners being joined by Manchester United and Liverpool in his pursuit. The report claims that Ben Yedder could cost around £40 million.
Wissam Ben Yedder: An underrated striker?
Ben Yedder has been one of the most consistent attackers in Europe ever since his breakthrough in the 2012/13 campaign. He scored 71 goals in 174 matches for FC Toulouse before moving to Sevilla in 2016. The Frenchman continued his performances in Spain, finding the back of the net 70 times in 138 competitive matches.
His performances earned him a big-money move to AS Monaco last summer and Ben Yedder hasn’t disappointed upon his return to France. In fact, he is enjoying the most productive season of his career, having netted 18 goals in just 26 league matches.
The 29-year-old’s contributions in front of goal have been critical behind Monaco’s steady recovery, with the French giants attaining the second-best offensive record in Ligue 1. Although he has managed to accumulate only eight caps for the national side, Ben Yedder is indeed one of the most underrated strikers in Europe.
What can he add to the Arsenal side?
Unlike a traditional centre forward, Ben Yedder relies heavily on his movement and pace to get into scoring positions. So essentially, he is quite good at rotating the ball in the final third and linking up with teammates. His excellent positional sense allows him to get into dangerous areas, thus creating more space for his teammates.
The Frenchman has notably averaged 2.5 shots on goal per game this season. But more importantly, his tally of 1.7 key passes per game is indicative of the player’s ability not just to score goals but also create chances in the final third – making him a well-rounded number nine.
How does Ben Yedder fit into Arsenal?
Arsenal are running the risk of losing star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the summer. The Gabonese international has been linked with a move away from Emirates, and his potential departure could create a massive void in the goalscoring department. That’s where Ben Yedder come into the fray.
The Frenchman could be deployed alongside his compatriot Alexandre Lacazette in the attack. Ideally, he should be considered as the main forward, with the likes Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli playing in behind. Nevertheless, the Monaco star would be an excellent replacement for Aubameyang as Arsenal look to usher in a new era under Mikel Arteta next season.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
