Arsenal: Ryan Fraser a long way from Wilfried Zaha

Arsenal are reportedly considering turning their attention back to Ryan Fraser after a failed bid for Wilfried Zaha. There is, however, a big difference between the two players.

As soon as it was clear that Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott were leaving Arsenal 18 months ago, there was an obvious, gaping hole in the squad. Everyone knew it back then. Everyone knew it in the summer, six months later. And everyone knows it now. A winger is needed.

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Specifically speaking, over the past season-and-a-half, the team has lacked a dynamic, direct, skilful wide attacker who has the ability to both beat defenders when dribbling with the ball at their feet and produce goals and assists in the final third.

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Given the names that have been mentioned as potential targets this summer, it seems as though Unai Emery and Raul Sanllehi have recognised this need and are at least attempting to do something about it. The problem is, however, that two months into the summer window and all that has been achieved is a failed £40 million bid for a player that the fan base is massively split on.

Last week, Arsenal managed to incense Crystal Palace and humiliate themselves once again as they offered half of Wilfried Zaha’s £80 million evaluation. The bid, of course, was rejected. Zaha, it seems, is still the main target and Emery is most certainly a huge admirer of his talents, but the finances may dictate things. The measly £40-45 million budget is rather restrictive after all and there are plenty of other needs to be filled.

And so, it has now been reported that Emery and Sanllehi may turn to a former flame, and clearly their back-up plan to Zaha, Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser. The Scottish international enjoyed a terrific season with the Cherries last year, creating more chances than any other player in the Premier League and notching more assists than anyone else not named Eden Hazard. He is also entering the final year of his contract, meaning he should be available for a more palatable fee, closer to the £25 million range.

Fraser seems like a far more realistic and sensible deal. Bournemouth are in a position where they may have to sell, he is still relatively young, is Premier League proven, and does some of the things that Arsenal desperately need, like play with terrific speed and create chances. But there is a massive drop-off from Zaha to Fraser that should be recognised.

While the statistics may not necessarily tell the same story, the talent of the two players is night and day. Fraser is an economical, industrious, efficient and maximised winger, someone who can be productive in the right system but is never going to elevate his game to the elite level. Zaha, on the other hand, is a little more unpredictable, boasting a skill set that allows him to rise above shapes and tactics and dominate matches in spite of restricting elements around him. Fraser will never be anything more than a product of a system; Zaha breaks the system.

That is not to say that Fraser is not a dangerous attacking player and would be an unwise addition. If used correctly and tailored to, he can still be extremely useful. Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are products of the Liverpool system. To a much greater extent, they outproduce their talent because of the roles they play. But it does highlight that there is a limitation to Fraser that Zaha’s potential blows out of the water, and Arsenal must recognise that fact.

Which is the better signing is difficult to say. You could buy three Frasers for one Zaha. But if you choose the Bournemouth man over his Palace counterpart, you are also accepting that you could have had better, and that is a difficult message to sell.