Arsenal: Ben-Yedder Next Best Thing To Lacazette

Arsenal’s pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette is leading to continued shenanigans from Lyon, so maybe it’s best to just go with a reach and sign Wissam Ben-Yedder.

So the striker situation is getting tense. Arsenal submitted a bid for Alexandre Lacazette, but the problem is that the bid fell a whole £12m shy of what Aulas and Lyon have been asking for. Which leaves us to wonder if that was the maximum Wenger was willing to spend on a striker for Arsenal. Because if so, none of the big name strikers that we are linked to will happen.

That doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. There are still viable options for Arsenal out there that aren’t going to cost a ridiculous amount of money. If Icardi is moving to Napoli, or if Inter resume their vice grip, then the world isn’t over. Sure, it looked like it was going to be Lacazette or Icardi. But if neither of those two work out, then Wissam Ben-Yedder is the next best thing.

We have to think realistically. Wenger is not one to spend big money for no reason. And when you really get down to it, the difference between Ben-Yedder and someone like Lacazette or Icardi is most definitely not £32m.

Let’s take it down to numbers. In the past four years, Lacazette has played 11,010 Ligue 1 minutes, scoring 66 goals for a goals-per-minute clip of 166. That was obviously held back by his 2012/13 season. But even if we throw those numbers out, in the three years where he had his emergence, 8,721 minutes and 63 goals. That’s a solid 138 minutes per goal.

Meanwhile, Mauro Icardi has played 8,928 minutes in the past four years, scoring 58 goals in the process. That totals 153 goals per minute. Again, respectable. At 23, he takes the cake for most upside.

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But then we get to Wissam Ben-Yedder. The 25 year old has registered 11,288 minutes in the past four years, scoring 62 goals. That only comes in at 182 minutes per goal. Immediately, I feel the quizzical looks. Why then is he the ‘next best thing’ to Lacazette and Icardi?

Well, it’s simple. Both Lacazette and Icardi play on a Champions League level team, where they have a cast that can support Champions League level play. Ben-Yedder does not have that, nor has he ever. So we don’t necessarily know what he can do when he has a squad of world class team mates, like he would at Arsenal.

Evens still, is the difference between 166 or 153 minutes per goal and 182 minutes per goal worth £32m? Absolutely not.

So while a big price tag is usually met with massive applause because it’s a ‘big signing’ we have to stay grounded. What’s the point of making a signing? It isn’t just to spend money, it’s to fit a need. Ben-Yedder fits the need and he would give Wenger an extra £32m to spend on finding a replacement for Mertesacker.

Next: Arsenal's 5 Step Plan To Win The Prem

Or for Mahrez. If you’re into that.

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