Mario Balotelli- Arsenal Target 2014

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Over the course of the summer, we’ll be tracking the most realistic potential signings for Arsenal and publishing our profiles and assessment of each footballer.

Mario Balotelli

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Rumours linking players to Arsenal have been reaching a fever pitch of late, such as Arsenal and Liverpool suddenly taking an interest in Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa following a very good showing against Brazil. Most rumours are just that…rumours. But one that has been picking up a good deal of momentum over the last 48 hours has to do with a certain hot-blooded Italian.

Mario Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, was quoted complimenting Arsenal, telling Sky Sports it is a “fantastic club,” and that “anything is possible” in the transfer window. Anything said by Balotelli’s agent that could point to a move out of Italy must be taken with a grain of salt. It was only a matter of time before Balotelli turned his eye away from Serie A, and his agent is likely just fanning the flames to try and fire a move out of Italy.

But regardless of the verbal swordplay of interested parties, a Balotelli move to North London is generally popular among the fans, and his ability is such that Arsenal would be well strengthened with his addition.

Playing Style

One of the most mouth-watering aspects of Mario Balotelli’s game is his strength. But in stark contrast to Olivier Giroud’s power which is in holding up play with his back to goal, Balotelli demonstrates it while on the dribble. Tremendous body control and upper body explosiveness gives him a significant advantage during his often lengthy dribbles into the final third.

Balotelli’s vision leaves something to be desired, but for a young striker he is still capable of picking out the correct pass at the correct time, even if a few too many tend to be the Hollywood pass instead of the best choice. Balotelli had 14 goals and six assists with Milan this past season and, should a move to London materialize, that number would likely jump given the quality he’d have surrounding him.

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The 23-year old Italian also has a brilliant right foot and he knows it, leading to a high incidence of shots from outside the box. This isn’t something to be particularly concerned about. Besides Cazorla and sometimes Podolski, Arsenal has been without a violent shot-taker from beyond the 18-yard box. While it doesn’t mesh with the tiki-taka Arsenal love to play in the final third, it would have the added benefit of forcing defenders to step forward and apply pressure, thus creating channels for marauding midfielders and wingers to exploit.

Attitude

Much has been made of Balotelli’s attitude and, on this topic, it doesn’t seem to be hyperbole. From his bust-up with Mancini when in Manchester to his frequency of boneheaded and questionably malicious tackles, there is a generous contingent of Arsenal fans who are wary about bringing such a player to the squad. The concerns are certainly fair. Balotelli saw yellow nine times and red once this past campaign. Premier League defenders will be well aware of his tempestuous nature and efforts to frustrate him will be commonplace.

But Balotelli will be on a team where he is a big name, but not the biggest. He’ll be surrounded by a squad with tremendous experience and talent and will be under a manager with the creative latitude of Arsène Wenger; not to mention the iron fist of fee-collector extraordinaire, Per Mertesacker. London could be the city-and Arsenal the club- to tame Mario Balotelli and help him develop into the incredible talent he displays.

Price

Balotelli is listed at around £30 million, though the number most often reported is slightly lower, in the £25-£27 million range. Reports citing a possibility of a £180,000 per week contract broke recently, though it seems very unlikely Arsenal will fire off a number of that magnitude. Mario Balotelli is a superior option to most of the other strikers that have been linked with the club so far, especially given his youth and potential.

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