Arsenal Face Significant Risk With Nabil Fekir

Arsenal’s quest for a striker continues as they have to be searching every possible avenue. Nabil Fekir is an interesting option but there is risk involved.

Jamie Vardy ended up being a bit of a drab affair. After supposedly being ready to be wrapped up within a couple days, the saga droned on and eventually, it just faded. Now, everyone is resigned to it not happening at all. Some even say that he was just leveraging Arsenal to get a better contract from Leicester.

There are other options though. The problem is that none are very proven and all are grossly inflated in price. Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alvaro Morata figure to cost well in excess of what Mesut Ozil cost and neither one has any experience in England.

Which brings us to another possible striker target, as we get further into the high risk, high reward options.

Nabil Fekir is young, and anyone who’s anyone has been pegging him for greatness. From Didier Deschamps to the next French footballing mind. They all say he’s just a grand striker.

At just 22 years of age, Fekir has a well-rounded skill set. He isn’t a strong, physical striker, but he is not Walcott pacey either. The lad just knows how to score. But it doesn’t stop there. Fekir is also a tremendous passer, as he creates over a chance a game on average throughout his young career.

In his last full season with Lyon, two seasons ago, Fekir scored 13 goals in 34 starts but notched nine assists as well. Call it a nice balance between finding the back of the net and finding a team mate who found the back of the net. Regardless, the ball found the back of the net 22 times in 34 starts when Fekir was involved.

Last year was supposed to be a big year for Fekir. He was supposed to be able to follow up on that big, breakout debut year and make a name for himself. But, in true Arsenal fashion, an injury got in the way. He returned in April. Making just five starts and four substitute appearances for a whopping grand total of 462 minutes, Fekir actually made quite the impression, scoring four times, assisting once, and putting up nearly identical passing numbers as the year before.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

There is plenty to be optimistic about with Fekir, but we have to ask ourselves if he is right for Arsenal. A lot of what Fekir draws his success off of is his control on the ball and his passing ability. Still, he loses possession a fair amount and without a great deal of size, the Premier League may not be so kind to him. At least not right away, which is basically when Arsenal would need him.

But if he can link up play for Arsenal as he is showing a tendency to do in France, he will fit right in.

There is a great deal of risk with Fekir. He’s young, unproven and not exactly a big or fast man. But the reward is also great. His instincts are superb and he’s a smart player with excellent passing.

Next: Arsenal Must Turn To Lacazette

The big question is whether or not Arsenal want to fork up the £20m that West Ham are supposedly ready to offer. Personally, I’d up the payout a bit and just go for Fekir’s team mates, Alexandre Lacazette.

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