Arsenal are chasing ‘one of the best left-backs’ around

It’s been a tough season arsenal this year

Mikel Arteta’s The team went into the campaign hoping that this would be the year they finally topple Manchester City in the Premier Leagueand although they have six points ahead of the Champions League, they are six points behind current leaders Liverpool.

This decline is due to a number of reasons, from suspensions to injuries and a lack of cutting edge in attack, especially on the left, such as Leandro Trossardwho is only six produced implications of the goals so far.

As such, recent reports linking the club with an incredibly exciting left-back should excite the Arsenal faithful, especially as it could yet again see the Belgian fired.

Arsenal transfer news

According to recent Caught Offside reportArsenal are one of several teams interested in talented Club Brugge winger Maxim De Cuyper.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are currently leading the chase for the 24-year-old, but fellow Londoners Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the exciting player.

The report does not mention a price, but considering that the most expensive departure from Brugge of all time was 36.5 million euros – £30.2m – Charles De Ketelaere transfer to AC Milan and the left back is valued at only 12 million euros – £10m – per Transfermarkt, we can’t see this potential deal costing the north Londoners an arm and a leg.

Overall, it could be a tricky transfer to get over the line, but given De Cuyper’s skill and potential, it’s worth pursuing, especially as he could revive Trossard.

How De Cuyper could revive Trossard

Now, one of the advantages of signing De Cuyper is that he has proven himself in recent years which is versatile enough to play on both sides of the defense and even further up the pitch.

However, left back is his preferred position; therefore, it will be those on the left wing, such as Trossard, who will be most affected by it.

Fortunately, the Knokke-Heist-born dynamo appears to be an incredibly gifted attacking full-back, which is why he could revive his compatriot on the left.

For example, in just 24 appearances this season, promising prospect, who talent scout Jacek Kulig christened “one of the best left backs” around, he scored one goal and four assistsequivalent to an average involvement of a goal every 4.8 games.

Imagine how much more effective the Gunners’ Belgian winger could be with the 6ft full-back darting up the pitch, ready to overlap or make a killer pass through the lines for him to get on the end.

That said, if his raw production this season isn’t enough to convince you, maybe his underlying numbers will be.

According to FBrefwhich compares players in similar positions in the following top 14 competitions, the left-footed star ranks in the top 1% of full-backs for shot creation actions and progressive passing, top 2% for expected goals without penalty more assistance , the top 3% for pass attempts and the top 7% for touches in the opposing penalty area, all for 90.

Ultimately, Arsenal’s left side has been underwhelming so far this season and while signing a new striker could help, signing a new attacking full-back to get the most out of their current attackers could be a even better idea.

Therefore, Arteta and company should do everything possible to sign De Cuyper as soon as possible.

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