In a recent report, Calciomercato mentioned that Arsenal have reignited their interest in Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli who is currently playing on loan at Juventus. It has been stated that the Gunners are eyeing a move for the Italian midfield ace next year.
Locatelli’s Impressive Numbers In Italian Football
Locatelli is having a solid loan spell at the Allianz Stadium as he has put in a series of impressive displays at the heart of Juve’s midfield. The 24-year-old has made six appearances for the Italian club in this campaign, earning 448 minutes of game time across all fronts.
The Italian talent has given a good account of himself in the middle of the park based on his average of 2.2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 0.6 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game in Serie A. He has even been accurate with his ball distribution after making 82.3% of his attempted passes in the Italian first division (stats via whoscored).
Locatelli is currently out with an injury but could benefit from a change of scenery next year which could open the door for the Gunners to land him.
Is Locatelli A Good Choice For Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta?
Locatelli is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his team at the centre of the park. He is often quick to read the danger and doesn’t mind clearing his lines when needed. Locatelli is primarily a defensive midfielder but can also act as a box-to-box midfielder or play in the number ten position as an attacking midfielder if his manager asks him to do so.
The Italian sensation is a tidy passer of the ball as well but only time will tell whether he can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football if Arsenal manage to sign him in the future.
We can expect Locatelli to add more bite and steel to Mikel Arteta‘s midfield department and help the North London club challenge for some major trophies in the coming seasons.
At 24, the Italian midfield ace will only get better over the next few years. Hence, Arteta will fancy his chances of getting the best out of the player as long as he can stay injury-free. All in all, Locatelli will be a decent choice for the Gunners to consider when the transfer window commences at the start of next year.
