In an interview with Goal, former Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu has urged his compatriot Wilfred Ndidi to consider a move to Arsenal. He believes that the Leicester City midfielder will thrive at Emirates, with the north London giants having a significant fan following in Nigeria and Africa, in general.
Wilfred Ndidi: One of the best midfielders in the PL?
Ndidi joined Leicester in 2017, as a direct replacement for N’Golo Kante. However, after a relatively slow start to his Premier League career, he has emerged as one of the most consistent midfielders in England. Especially under Brendan Rodgers, he has become a vital cog in the Leicester midfield, having been an ever-present figure in the starting lineup this season.
Indeed, Ndidi’s energy, combined with his remarkable work-rate has helped him establish himself as the main cover for the Leicester backline that has attained the second-best defensive record in the league.
One of the key aspects of Ndidi’s game is his willingness to close down the opposition. His contributions in the second line of the press have been backed by statistics too, with the Nigerian international attempting 5.4 tackles per game, which is the third highest in the league.
He has also attained a tackle success rate of 74% while completing 61 interceptions – a tally only bettered by Bournemouth’s Diego Rico in the Premier League this season. Also, Ndidi has recorded at an average of two clearances and 2.6 aerial duels per game – making him one of the most defensively active players in England.
Why Ndidi could fancy moving to Arsenal
Ndidi’s style of play is almost tailor-made for Arsenal’s current needs as the Gunners have lacked the presence of a reliable defensive midfielder in quite some time now. The Leicester City star, in that regard, could easily fit into Mikel Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 scheme. He could form the double-pivot alongside Granit Xhaka, providing support for the defensive backline as well as easing the side’s transition from defence to attack, ultimately making Arsenal much more efficient.
Ndidi’s hard-working nature and tenacity could combine well with Xhaka’s more passing-oriented game, thus adding another dimension to Arsenal’s midfield play. And with both the midfielders being known for their aggression, the north London giants could undoubtedly become much more vigilant in the second line of press.
Can Arsenal sign Ndidi this summer?
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Ndidi is unlikely to leave Leicester City this summer. He still has four years left on his current contract, with the midfielder also admitting that he is happy at his current club.
Even if Ndidi does leave Leicester in the summer, he could certainly cost a fortune, being one of Premier League’s most sought-after midfielders. Not to mention, he is more than expected to attract interest from big clubs across Europe and not just Arsenal, meaning Arteta’s side has very little chance of getting their hands on the Nigerian sensation in the near future.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
