In a recent report, AS mentioned that Arsenal are showing serious interest in Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque. It has been claimed that the Gunners are eyeing a move to land the Brazilian striker but could face competition in the form of Barcelona in pursuit of him.
Roque’s Recent Form In Brazilian Football This Season
Roque has been a sporadic presence in Paranaense’s squad this season but has managed to put in a few impressive displays in the final third. The 17-year-old has already made 36 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring seven goals and securing three assists in multiple competitions.
The promising striker made most of his appearances off the bench which could be why he is only averaging 1.4 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Brasileirao. However, he has to find a way to improve his link-up play up top, based on his pass success rate of 70% in league football (stats via whoscored).
His current deal at the Brazilian club is set to run out in the summer of 2027. Thus, it won’t be easy for the Gunners to land him on the cheap later this year.
Arsenal Are Showing Interest In Roque: Is He A Prospect For The Future?
Roque is proficient at creating space for himself to get a few strikes in at goal. He has got the vision to create some decent plays for others around him on the attacking end of the field and can make some clever runs with the ball in behind the opponent’s defence. Roque is primarily a centre-forward but can also fill in as a wide player if his manager asks him to do so.
We can expect him to become a success story at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta can devise a way to bring him on board in the future. Roque ticks all the right boxes in terms of what Arteta demands from his forwards at the North London club. However, it remains to be seen whether he can find a way to adapt to the physicality and high intensity of English football.
At 17, Roque has got the potential to become a real star in the future. There is no doubt that he is a prospect to watch out for in the coming seasons. Thus, the Gunners should try everything they can to lure the Brazilian whizkid to the English capital during the summer transfer window.
