A Premier League star has been linked to Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his title-challenging team.
The Spaniard had a fantastic season, but after the Gunners came so close to winning the league for the first time in 19 years, he plans to strengthen his team for the upcoming campaign.
Following the double injury blow to Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba, it is possible that Arsenal’s lack of defence depth cost them the championship. However, a continuing connection might prevent the north Londoners from being unprepared once more.
What has changed regarding Joao Cancelo joining Arsenal?
Joao Cancelo, a full-back for Manchester City who is set to return to Manchester following a loan stint at Bayern Munich, is attracting interest from Arsenal, as 90min revealed early last month.
More recently, journalist Dharmesh Sheth of Sky Sports said that the defender is the subject of ‘early verbal conversations’ between Arsenal and City and that the price for his sale may be as high as €40 million (£34 million).
Arteta’s team appears to be’very ambitious’ in the window, Sheth said to the report.
What benefits might Joao Cancelo offer Arsenal?
The adaptable right-back, who has been praised as “world-class” by former Premier League defender Ahmed Elmohamady, may provide Arsenal with a variety of benefits.
Despite Ben White’s present dominance in the position, Football Insider speculated that the Englishman would return to a more central role the next season.
Similar to how Oleksandr Zinchenko has since leaving Manchester for north London and establishing himself as a regular starter on the left flank, Cancelo has the potential to elevate the Gunners to new heights.
Despite playing sparingly over the previous year, the Portuguese star is one of the top full-backs in Europe, according to FBref.
The 29-year-old wide defender, who averages a staggering 0.32 assists per 90, places in the top 1% of wide defenders on the continent, demonstrating his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively.
The Barreiro-born wonder, who averages 2.13 tackles per 90, outperforms Zinchenko, who scores 1.71 in this category per FBref, and might be a dependable addition for Arsenal defensively.
The three-time Premier League champion’s ability to complement Saliba is just one of several reasons why the Gunners would benefit greatly from signing him.
The Frenchman, a right-footed ball player who primarily plays on Arsenal’s right side of central defence, might offer a reliable outlet when transferring play through the City star on his side of the defender.
According to FBref, the 22-year-old averages 3.69 progressive passes per 90 seconds and has a pass completion percentage of 91%, demonstrating that he is an expert ball-handler who might form a lethal tandem with Cancelo.
According to FBref, the Bayern Munich loanee is in the top 4% among players in his position in Europe when it comes to receiving progressive passes, averaging 8.6 per 90.
In a system that may elevate Arsenal and help them advance once more the next season, Arteta could form a defensive quintet of players who are equally strong defensively as they are offensively dangerous.