In a recent interview with ELF Voetbal, Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato revealed that he is ‘dreaming’ of a move to Arsenal. When asked about his countryman Jurrien Timber’s arrival at the North London club, Hato said,
“Unfortunately, he was seriously injured in his first Premier League game for Arsenal, but he is still young and has a bright future ahead of him.
“In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him.
“It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer, but I realise that I still have a very long way to go.”
Hato’s Impressive Rise In Dutch Football
Hato has come through the youth ranks of Ajax and has managed to break into the Dutch club’s senior team recently. The 17-year-old has made ten appearances for the Amsterdam outfit this season, picking up one assist across all competitions.
The Dutch talent has been a reliable performer at the back based on his average of 2.7 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 2.5 clearances and 1.0 key passes per 90 minutes in the Dutch Eredivisie. He was even tidy when distributing possession from inside his half after making 90.5% of his attempted passes in the Dutch top tier (stats via whoscored).
Should Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta Launch A Move For Hato?
Hato is a good tackler of the ball and can make a few important interceptions for his team on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot.
The Dutch talent can even set up a few decent plays for his teammates in the opponent’s half. He mainly functions as a central defender but can also play as a left-back if asked to do so.
At 17, Hato has got the ceiling to become a future star in European football which makes him a worthy, long-term option for the Gunners to pursue next year.
Thus, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta should focus on launching a move to acquire his services when the transfer commences at the start of next year. However, there are some concerns over whether Hato can cope with the physical side and high intensity of Premier League football.
