In a recent report, Goal revealed that Arsenal have launched a £35m bid for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez this summer. It has been claimed that the Gunners are planning to beat Manchester United in the race to land the Argentine centre-back during this summer transfer period.
Martinez’s Impressive Campaign In Dutch Football
Martinez had an impressive campaign in Amsterdam as he produced a series of solid defensive displays at the heart of Ajax’s defence. The Argentina international featured in 36 matches for the Dutch club last season, scoring one goal and picking up four assists in multiple competitions.
The 24-year-old proved himself to be a dominant presence on the defensive end of the pitch based on his average of 2.0 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 2.8 clearances per game in the Dutch Eredivisie. He was even excellent when distributing the ball from the back after he made 88.9% of his attempted passes in the Dutch top tier (stats via whoscored).
Is Martinez A Decent Signing For Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta?
Martinez is a good tackler of the ball and can sense the danger quickly to earn possession back for his side inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when required and is a brilliant passer of the ball as well.
Hence, the Argentine talent will be a great fit for Mikel Arteta‘s style of play at the Emirates Stadium as long as he can make a smooth transition to life in North London. He can even play in multiple positions across the backline.
Martinez will inject more quality into Arsenal‘s defensive department and increase competition for places within Arteta’s squad.
At 24, the South American defensive ace has got a very bright future ahead of him and is well-equipped to become a future star at the London club. Martinez is good enough to help the Gunners secure a top-four spot in the Premier League next season. With all things considered, he will be a fantastic signing for Arsenal to pull off this summer.
