Arsenal: Significant magic required to land Leon Bailey

Arsenal are supposedly ready to open up talks with Leon Bailey, but with Chelsea pecking at his heels too, they are going to have to do something really special.

Arsenal‘s creative attacking set-up is pretty well stocked. They have two of the best creative minds out there, more creative minds behind them, and strikers to finish it all off up top. Which is all well and good.

But speed is lacking. Width is lacking. Asking fullbacks to be equal parts defender and winger is a dicey endeavor that has left them exposed on more than one occasion.

So when that situation arises that they need width, who are they going to turn to? Well, as of right now, nobody. Because they don’t have any speed out wide because they don’t have any wingers, who provide both of those things.

Names have been linked – Ousmane Dembele, Kinglsey Coman – and names have been dismissed – Ousmane Dembele, Kinglsey Coman – but through it all, it’s clear that the Gunners are most likely after a young winger with a lot of room to grow.

Leon bailey fits that exact same mold.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Young, speedy, talented, a true winger and someone who is capable of scoring and assisting, Bailey has lingered in the peripheries all summer.

And now, it’s being reported that it may be a duel between the two (only) London powerhouses, Arsenal and Chelsea, as Bailey is intent on making a move to London. Good on him. Can’t do much better than London.

The problem is, from the red side of London, how do you convince him to join up instead of what he could be getting at Chelsea.

The difference is in what can be offered to the lad.

Chelsea, as it stands, could lose Willian, they could lose Eden Hazard, hell, they could lose more than that. And what sounds sexier to a young winger than “you’ll be the next Eden Hazard”?

“You’ll be the next super sub for when Mesut Ozil inevitably needs coming off or Henrikh Mkhitaryan puts in another effort like he did against Spurs” doesn’t have the same ring to it. In this regard, I don’t see how the Gunners can compete with the Blues.

That doesn’t mean all hope is lost, though. This club has pulled off unlikely moves in the past (Ozil, Aubameyang) so it’s not like it can’t happen again. This would be a damn good time for a repeat performance.