Dominik Szoboszlai’s Enticing Excellence Becoming Arsenal’s Worry

Dominik Szoboszlai is destined for greatness. Is that at Arsenal?

Supporters have their wishlists drawn out. Christmas may be around the corner, but Arsenal fans are already looking ahead to the New Year. When January comes around, Houssem Aouar‘s name is ever so slightly being replaced with that of Dominik Szoboszlai.

Interest in the Hungarian is not recency bias. Arsenal have, as most clubs do, been tracking the 20-year-old for a length of time. Such is custom in scouting. With each passing week their docket on his ability will bulk up a few pages, as with each passing week, he bulks up in quality.

As if a player at his level, at such an age, wasn’t cause enough to cast enthusiastic, greedy eyes, his measly £23m release clause will do no favours. Arsenal want him. Supporters want him….everyone is going to want him.

This is the worrying aspect.

https://twitter.com/EURO2020/status/1327006306113384449

From a club’s point of view, a player in exceptional form in the Austrian Bundesliga doesn’t garner quite the same attention as those from its German cousin, for example. Sure, you’re aware of his wide-ranging ability and spell book crammed full of possession-based magic, but it is, after all, the Austrian Bundesliga.

Problem is, he’s developing at an exponential level that it’s becoming impossible not to be besotted.

AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Arsenal have been the three sides most heavily linked, but he’s mere minutes away from being linked with Europe’s elite: the Clasico and Manchester pairs of this world.

On Thursday night, he picked the ball up in his own half with his Hungary side pinned back deep by Iceland. The visitors, who’d been leading up until the 88th minute, were pushing for a late winner that would send them to the upcoming European Championship finals.

Szoboszlai collected possession, drove through a sea of blue bodies then danced his way to within 25 yards of goal and fired into the bottom corner. Hungary are going to the Euros. Szoboszlai’s 91st minute strike booked their ticket.

A sublime goal, yet just one highlight in an extensive catalogue of magical moments from the Hungarian. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what division you play in. When you’re that sharp, you can draw blood anywhere.

At this rate, Arsenal will be battling the entire continent for his signature. Now that’s a concern.