Transfer Scouting Report - Arsenal would be mad not to capitalise on Juventus star Paul Pogba's situation
Last week Juventus president Andrea Agnelli admitted: “If a huge offer arrived for Paul Pogba, I don’t think, right now, we would be strong enough to resist it.”
Arsenal have been linked with Pogba for a long time, should they capitalise on his potential availability?
The statement from his club has left his future up in the air and Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have been heavily linked since. On the possibility of Pogba staying at Juventus for the rest of his career, his Juve team-mate Giorgio Chiellini, commented: “If someone wants to believe in fairytales and Father Christmas that’s his prerogative.”
It seems he’s missing love from his club, and after his fall out with Manchester United, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger could become the perfect home for the French midfielder.
Not nearly as tidy in possession as any Arsenal midfielder, Pogba’s 80% pass success falls short of the impressive 93% and 94% of Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta respectively.
But it’s in his duels where Pogba really excels. With 20 tackles already this season, he dwarfs Arteta and Flamini’s combined eight.
The Juventus midfielder has also won 18 headers in just seven Serie A games. That’s double what Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Arteta and Flamini combined have managed.
Pogba’s powerful frame enables him to go past players, and he’s attempted an impressive 28 take ons this season, successful with 14 of them – six more than any other Arsenal midfielder.
Pogba’s strengths could be the perfect addition to Arsenal’s midfield; helping further complement the more creative players in the side.
With the form of Ramsey and arrival of Flamini, the need for a midfielder at Arsenal has been replaced with more pressing concerns like adding depth to the striker position. But with Arteta turning 32 this season, a new midfielder must not be overlooked.
Would Pogba be a suitable long-term replacement in the summer?
Whilst they are different types of players, Arsenal’s form has been transformed by adding the energetic duo of Flamini and Ramsey to the centre of the midfield, and a player of Pogba’s ilk would add another quality, different option.
Beyond the first team trio of Arteta, Flamini and Ramsey, there aren’t many options for the two deep roles in the midfield.
Whilst Wilshere is an alternative, his attacking nature means he is more suited to a more advanced role. Arsenal have often been criticised with their lack of strength in midfield, with Pogba’s impressive duel statistics, surely he would be the perfect plug for that hole.
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