Arsenal Must Utilize Upper Hand In Riechedly Bazoer Pursuit

Arsenal have taken a Dutch theme in their youth system and they can’t allow that upper hand to go to waste with Riechedly Bazoer pursuit.

Arsenal have taken a liking to the Dutch way within their youth system. The Netherlands own Andries Jonker is calling the shots with Arsenal’s youth development and for just cause. This Dutch theme has brought about the signing of the quickly emerging Donyell Malen, who cannot manage to stop scoring. At just 16 years of age, he is proving to be the next great thing to come out of the Netherlands. Or at least one of them. They are currently in pursuit of the other.

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Arsenal may be looking to one-up themselves with a purchase of a Dutch wonderkid that is almost graduated from his wonderkid status.

Riechedly Bazoer may not have burst onto the international scene just yet but he is right on the doorstep. He is being pursued by every big club out there, with Barcelona being a contender as well. That puts Arsenal up against it. But Arsenal has something that Barcelona does not. They have this newly-centered Dutch system that has to appeal to someone that has remained at hometown club Ajax this long.

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Ajax will not be able to hold onto Bazoer forever. The Eredivisie does not have the same appeal or the same financial clout as the five major leagues in Europe. It is only a matter of time before Bazoer takes his talents to a bigger stage.

Arsenal cannot lose out on another potentially dynamic midfield option. Pain in the Arsenal’s Dutch Football insider referred to Bazoer as the next Patrick Vieira. While many people have carried such prestigious titles and such pressure before, Bazoer looks to have the gumption to follow through on it.

Bazoer is the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. At just 19 years of age, there is no weakness in his game. He stands at 185cm and 81kg. For those of you keeping track, that is just as big as Patrick Vieira was.

While his athleticism is truly remarkable, it is his his intelligence and composure that puts him over the top. For a young midfielder to display the positioning genius that he does is something unique. Arsenal may have one such character in Jeff Reine-Adelaide, but Bazoer could be the next. And with the size and already developed skills that Bazoer has, he would very easily leapfrog the Frenchman.

The Dutch midfielder is running into a situation where he may start to want out. Former Ajax manager Aad de Mos has pointed out that Bazoer does not even listen to current Ajax manager Frank De Boer. “It all comes naturally,” he said, as quoted by InsideFutbol.

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There are few managers in the world that share a passion for youth development like Arsene Wenger. It has been widely documented how well treats any youth prospect, even the ones that Arsenal has not even signed yet. It was Hector Bellerin who pointed to Wenger as the chief cause of his Arsenal transfer. He cited Le Profs care and welcoming and said that he felt like he could make a difference at Arsenal. That was all thanks to Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal have the upper hand to nab Bazoer if they decide to act on it. They have the greatest manager for the job in Arsene Wenger and they have the Dutchman Jonkers in charge of the youth academy as well. Wherever Bazoer ends up with his potential arrival, he will be welcomed and at home.

Barcelona being on his case is the only real challenge that Arsenal face. But if Wenger can poach prospects from the Barcelona system, surely they can pick one out from under their nose.

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There have been so many missed chances in the history of Arsenal’s youth pursuits. From Zlatan to Messi, they all almost came to Arsenal. Bazoer fits a position that Arsenal have lacked for a decade. They cannot possibly let this one slip away as well. Once he takes that initial leap from Ajax, it will be nearly impossible to land him. That is why Arsenal have to be that initial leap.