Arsenal: If you didn’t want Aleksandr Golovin before, you do now

Arsenal have a knack for being linked to everyone, so Aleksandr Golovin flew under the radar. However, when he lays it on your doorstep, you have to pay attention.

The last time I wrote about Aleksandr Golovin potentially coming to Arsenal, I called it, and I quote, “pure idiocy.” This was after Arsenal’s Russian scout Pavel Kucherov said some pretty damning words about the young man. Have a look again, in case you’ve forgotten:

"This was a surprise for me. Usually, these things aren’t publicised and are kept private. He is not talented enough for the European level and it’s unrealistic to discuss his transfer to a top Premier League club. To make it to a top Premier League club, Aleksandr would need to improve his football in general, as well as his physical, psychological and mental attributes. If Golovin wants to prove himself in England, he will have to do it step by step. Because of high competition, he would be getting little playing time to prove himself."

That was enough for me, even not having seen more than a few highlight reels. £10m for a guy that our scout doesn’t even sign off on? No thanks.

Related Story: Arsenal vs CSKA Moscow Player Ratings

And while I’ve made a glaring mistake recently, basing an entire argument off of one match, I’m going to go ahead and venture my belief that this time, it is different. Because there was only ever one main threat coming from CSKA Moscow against Arsenal, and that threat was Aleksandr Golovin.

The young man beat Danny Welbeck in a footrace, which I didn’t even know was possible. I don’t think Welbeck did either, given his yell of frustration. Golovin was directly responsible for the second, crushing goal, and it seemed like every time he got the ball, everything around him stopped, and he did whatever he wanted.

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Golovin was quick, smart, incisive and determined. He understood the stakes and decided he was going to do something about the deficit that had to be made up. You put that around players of higher quality and guess what? You get a pretty good product.

And did you see his free kick in the first leg? You probably did.

How many times have the Gunners asked for a player capable of stepping up? They have a few, but can you ever really have too many?

That’s not to say that Golovin would have that immediate impact, but if this is what this young man is capable of against our very own ranks in a crucial match, then what is there to lose? Best case, he builds on this clear talent and becomes something truly special, worst case, you wasted £10m. Middle case, he becomes a solid player, perhaps even just a squad player, who you can turn to to make a difference.

Naturally, Arsene Wenger played it coy after the match, calling Golovin “very interesting” in the wake of the questioning.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against CSKA Moscow

This was reported as a “done deal” (like so many others) not all that long ago. I didn’t care then. I do now.