Arsenal: Aleksandr Golovin didn’t need World Cup to win us over

Arsenal fans have rightfully gone batty over Aleksandr Golovin’s World Cup performance, but he didn’t even need that to win us over.

Aleksandr Golovin was a major transfer target of Arsenal back when he was scoring set pieces against them in the Europa League for CSKA Moscow, but since Arsene Wenger left and Unai Emery arrived, the talk has simmered.

And then Golovin had to go and put in a fantastic performance in the opening match of the World Cup and remind everyone just why we wanted him so badly in the first place.

But he didn’t even need the World Cup to accomplish that end. Golovin was, and still is, a viable option to a potential problem that may or may not already be solved.

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Being a central midfielder, it’s natural to raise an eyebrow at the fit, as the Gunners have so many central midfielders linked to them that it’s not even funny.

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But even so, what Golovin brings is the unlimited potential of someone like Lucas Torreira, who the Gunners have supposedly already added to their ranks, barring an official announcement that we all expect in the near future.

Golovin showed off massively with his set-piece goal against Saudi Arabia to make it a massive 5-0 win for the hosts, but it was so much more than that that made Golovin impressive. While he showcased ball-winning abilities for Moscow all year, including against Arsenal in the Europa League, it was a true masterpiece against Saidu Arabia, as the 22-year old won the ball back seven times all on his own.

That’s how you speak the Gooner language. Score fancy goals and win the ball back and you become the apple of every single fans’ eye. Unless that fan inexplicably prefers the blunt object known as Steven N’Zonzi.

Golovin is what every Arsenal midfielder is supposed to be – everything. And I’m not saying that to be facetious. Wenger was always intend on finding the perfect midfielders. Well, Golovin has all the makings of one. It all comes down to his development now.

Lucas Torreira looks like the solution that we have been craving and I will be satisfied with him. But surely sprinkling in some Golovin wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

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Then again, we shouldn’t get our hopes up. He doesn’t look like an Emery target and if he keeps putting in performances like that, he will be so far out of our measly price range.