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Arsenal: 4 former players Gunners should re-sign

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 10, 2016.Arsenal won the game 2-1. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla gestures during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 10, 2016.Arsenal won the game 2-1. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – OCTOBER 24: Donyell Malen of PSV Eindhoven during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between PSV and Tottenham Hotspur at Philips Stadion on October 24, 2018 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – OCTOBER 24: Donyell Malen of PSV Eindhoven during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between PSV and Tottenham Hotspur at Philips Stadion on October 24, 2018 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

1. Donyell Malen

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both running down their contracts and entering the latter stages of their primes, Arsenal may want to reinvest in younger attacking options to replenish their front three positions. If that is the case, PSV striker Donyell Malen could be of great use.

The 21-year-old has performed superbly this season, scoring 11 goals with two assists in only 1,191 Eredivisie minutes. He also scored once in two Champions League games and has three goals in 309 Europa League minutes.

This season, he has averaged 4.5 shots per 90 minutes, 1.3 successful dribbles per 90, and, most impressively for a centre-forward, 1.7 chances created per 90 — to put his chances created into context, Raul Jimenez leads centre-forwards in the Premier League with 1.5 chances created per 90.

Arsenal: 3 dream signings to revolutionise Mikel Arteta era. dark. Next

Malen, then, could be the long-term successor to Lacazette in Mikel Arteta’s back-to-goal centre-forward role. He is prolific, a good dribbler, a superb passer and creator, and is only now figuring out senior football. A triumphant return to the Emirates could be what everyone needs.

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