Arsenal: Ryan Fraser the wrong lower Premier League winger

Arsenal are being strongly linked with a move for Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser. But he is the wrong lower Premier League winger to be targeting. That honour belongs to Wilfried Zaha.

The summer transfer window is looming. With a little more than a month of the domestic season to run, the football world’s gaze gradually begins to lift towards the upcoming madness that is set to occur. And for Arsenal, there is one position that is clearly one of need: winger.

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First it was Nicolas Pepe. Then it was David Neres. And now it is Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser. Whether any of these moves are even attempted in the summer remains to be seen. But given the similarity of the players and the frequency and wide-range of the leaks, it is clear that Arsenal are looking into adding a winger.

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Fraser is the most strongly linked player at present. There is lots that make sense. He has been exceptionally productive in the Premier League this season, scoring seven goals and assisting 11 — only Christian Eriksen and Eden Hazard have more assists. He is also on the cheaper end of the market, especially in comparison to Pepe, and is still only 25 with the prime of his career ahead of him and solid resale value. Bournemouth are reportedly willing to sell, considering the possibility of cashing in on Fraser.

There is just one major issue that I have with the deal. Of the many wingers in the lower half of the Premier League, Fraser is not the one that I would be targetting. That honour distinctly belongs to Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace, who has a far greater potential than his Scottish counterpart.

Zaha has not been as productive from a goals and assists perspective as Fraser this season. He only has eight goals and three assists, seven fewer than Fraser’s combined figure. But he is a far more talented player with a far higher ceiling.

While Fraser is exceptionally quick with terrific delivery off his left side, Zaha is a more complete winger. He is a better goalscorer, his dribbling skills are far more polished, and he has the touch and awareness to play in the more congested central areas. Fraser’s game is dependent on having space to drive into, something that Arsenal attackers don’t always have when playing against lesser sides.

Zaha, on the other hand, possesses both the straight-line speed of Fraser and the trickery and agility to work in tighter areas. Although his statistics may not seem as impressive this season, his all-round impact on matches is far more complete and consistently dangerous.

Zaha would be more expensive. There is no doubting that. But even if he comes in at double Fraser’s fee, the greater potential would be worth investing in. Arsenal do not need depth, they need stars. Fraser will never be more than a productive, dangerous attacker. Zaha, however, can be so much more. And that is worth taking a risk on.