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Arsenal Should Seriously Consider Spending Big For Alexandre Pato
By Josh Sippie
![By Ronnie Macdonald (Pato & Emmanuel Eboue 2) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F9e25d334b6a1ebc1d8246280cea018902f531d68fc14ccc63dfe3d74b0a88463.jpg "By Ronnie Macdonald (Pato & Emmanuel Eboue 2) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
During the summer transfer window, one of the many less-than-world-class strikers that Arsenal were reportedly tied to was Alexandre Pato. The Brazilian was pegged to be the next great thing in the world of football but injuries derailed his career.
But injuries do not eliminate talent. They can hinder it and hold it back, but they cannot eliminate it. Let’s look first at Jack Wilshere. Wilshere gets hurt all the time for Arsenal. All the time. But at the end of the day, when he is healthy, he is prolific. Arsenal will always find a place for that level of talent. He gets better each time we see him. It makes the injuries more and more frustrating, but it gives us something to look forward to.
Then there is Abou Diaby. Diaby was hurt more than anyone in the history of injuries. Literally, always hurt. But when he played, he was effective. Of course, he was rusty. But who wouldn’t be? He was still effective.
Brazilian side Corinthians has put an £18.5 million price tag on Pato and the initial inclination is to laugh it off and call off the pursuit. But that may not bet he best bet.
Let’s think about it.
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Alexandre Pato was riddled with injuries throughout his time with Inter and AC Milan. In the span of three years he scored 48 goals for AC Milan. Not the worst return in the world, but there will always be a need for more. That was when he was 19 years old, however.
By the time he hit 23 years old, he was battered with injuries. In his last two years at AC Milan he played just 25 games and scored 9 goals. Still not a bad return.
Pato’s career got back on track when he went to play in his home country for Brazilian side Corinthians. In his first season there, the injury-ridden forward made 57 appearances. 17 goals was the return. The goals can be overlooked for the sheer fact that he made 57 appearances. No one has ever doubted Pato’s ability, they have doubted his health. If the health is fixed, he needs to be swooped up.
Since that season, he has gone on loan to Sao Paolo. There, he has scored 33 goals in 83 appearances across two years. But he has been on loan the whole time. With the price tag being revealed, it is pretty clear that Pato is seeking his fortunes elsewhere.
Arsenal should absolutely be there to swoop him up. 18.5 is a big number, but when you consider that Danny Welbeck cost around £20 million, Pato seems absolutely worth it. Arsenal need another striking option. Olivier Giroud is getting older and has become a situation player. Theo Walcott is still adjusting and not a proven product. Danny Welbeck is even less developed than Theo Walcott.
Arsenal FC
Alexandre Pato could potentially bust. That’s easy to admit. But again, Pato’s talent has never been up for question. It has been his health. He is scoring goals. Not by the hundred, but he is scoring. Having another scoring option at Arsenal, a consistent option, would be invaluable.
He is currently playing in Brazil. Nothing against the Brazilian league, but a talent like Pato was and is starting to become again needs to be on a bigger stage. Arsenal can provide that.
Not only that, but Pato is a project. Arsene Wenger loves projects. Danny Welbeck was supposed to be a superstar as well and now Wenger has taken it upon himself to develop that. Maybe two projects that are so similar would be too much but who knows. He could be looked at as a fantastic signing if he turns into what he has always been predicted to become.
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