When Scottish Premiership giants Celtic announced the summer acquisition of a prodigious 18-year-old French striker from Paris Saint-Germain, not too many expected him to deliver on such a consistent basis. While it must be conceded that Odsonne Edouard didn’t hit the ground running immediately, even in his worst of performances, the overall quality that he brought to the table was as clear as day for the manager to see.
Odsonne Edouard is integral to the Celtic system, and denying that fact would be nothing but a waste of time. The forward has gone on to become a real fan-favourite at Parkhead, while his ability to score goals has managed to help the Celts consistently maintain their position at the top of the Premiership table. While it must be conceded that they have been troubled by Rangers quite a bit, there hasn’t been too many gameweeks where Neil Lennon’s side haven’t come out on top. Football.London are now suggesting though, that some Premier League sides, namely Arsenal, are being linked with the Frenchman this summer.
What Does Edouard Provide This Celtic Squad?
Now 22, the youngster has almost singlehandedly led the forward line for Celtic for a couple of seasons, and it’s safe to say that he has showcased multiple special attributes along the way. An excellent header of the ball, the tall Frenchman has the ability to time his runs into the box to perfection, thereby making the required contact on the ball as well. The former PSG man’s goalscoring rate quote commendable too, as he has managed to find the net 21 times from just 27 league outings (Transfermarkt).
Add in the fact that he even got 12 assists along the way, and suddenly we’re looking at a minimum of one goal contribution every time he stepped on to the pitch. The Frenchman’s movement in the final third is second to none in the Premiership, with Rangers star Alfredo Morelos the only player who can possibly give the 22-year-old a run for his money. Edouard is arguably one of the deadliest finishers in the whole of Britain, and that’s something the Celts can never afford to forget.
Odsonne Edouard Is Integral To The Celtic System: Do They Have The Firepower Needed To Replace Him?
Edouard’s career statistics with the Hoops read 45 goals and 21 assists from just 81 fixtures across all competitions, which indicates that finding a striker as potent as the Frenchman immediately will surely be a Herculean task for the Glasgow side. The Celts’ alternate strike options include winter signing Patryk Klimala and long-standing Parkhead servant Leigh Griffiths.
The youngster was brought in during the January transfer window and has not yet opened his account in the Premiership. Meanwhile, Leigh Griffiths has been a member of the Celtic roster for more than five years now, and his record this season hasn’t been half bad. Even though he could start next season as a player in the wrong side of his thirties, the forward’s record of nine goals from 21 games isn’t half bad either.
All things considered, what Celtic would be losing by selling Edouard would be the presence of a talismanic centre-forward. Neither of the aforementioned alternates has the physical attributes required to perform consistently in the gritty nature of the Scottish Premiership. Odsonne Edouard has turned out to be an absolute dream of a signing for the Celts, and if Neil Lennon can convince him to stay at Parkhead beyond the summer, it would have to be considered quite the achievement.
