In a recent tweet, Bild journalist Christian Falk has mentioned that Arsenal are showing interest in recruiting Borussia Dortmund playmaker Julian Brandt. However, it is believed that any potential move from the Gunners in pursuit of the German attacker is more likely to occur at the end of this campaign (via Sport Witness).
True ✅ @Arsenal is interested in @JulianBrandt The transfer is already a topic in the dressing room pic.twitter.com/OclmEP846O
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) December 31, 2020
Brandt’s Struggles In The Bundesliga This Season
The 24-year-old has endured an underwhelming campaign at the Signal Iduna Park this season as he has struggled to be consistent with his productivity in the final third. Brandt has participated in 22 matches for the German club this term, scoring one goal and providing one assist in all competitions.
The German international has flattered to deceive with his performances based on his average of 0.5 shots, 1.4 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga. At least, he has distributed the ball with a lot of conviction after completing 85.7% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Brandt is in dire need to improve his goal-scoring and creativity in the opposition half if he intends to unlock his true potential in the years to come. A move to the Emirates Stadium will allow the player to make a fresh start away from homeland. However, it will be a risky move for Mikel Arteta considering how lacklustre Brandt has been this season.
What Will The German International Add To Mikel Arteta’s Side?
Brandt has got decent pace under his belt and can make some driving runs with the ball towards the opponent’s penalty area. He has a good football IQ and can engineer a few inviting chances for his teammates in the attacking third. The former Wolfsburg youngster has got a great work ethic and is versatile enough to play as an attacking midfielder or as a left-sided wide player if required.
The 35-time German international is an excellent dribbler as he possesses outstanding ball control and agility to get past his marker. However, he needs to improve his numbers in front of goal if he wants to be a success story at the highest level.
Arteta will need to add more quality to his squad next summer if he wants to build a strong team capable of securing a top-four finish in the next campaign. However, an inconsistent player like Brandt could be a gamble for the Gunners as they would be better off signing someone with a better track record.
At 24, Brandt still has plenty of time left to prove his worth in European football. If the player is available for a fair price and Arteta is confident that he can get the best out of the underperforming Dortmund midfielder, then he should consider making a move for him at the end of this campaign.
