Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: 12 Granit Xhaka transfer replacements

By Ross Kennerley

NAPLES, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Fabian Ruiz of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Manuel Locatelli of Us Sassuolo ,during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Sassuolo at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Fabian Ruiz of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Manuel Locatelli of Us Sassuolo ,during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Sassuolo at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Romain Faivre
Brest’s French midfielder Romain Faivre (C) celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Brest and Bordeaux at the Francis Le Ble stadium in Brest, western France, on February 7, 2021. (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP) (Photo by FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images) /

Romain Faivre – Brest

Staying with left footers, Romain Faivre may not stick out as the quintessential left-sided central midfielder. Why? Because he doesn’t actually play there.

Spanner in the works?

The Brest forward lines up on either wing, either operating as an inverted option on the right or a deeper option on the left, in either case given the freedom to drift infield. What makes this option have the potential is that Faivre does most of his finest work in central areas. Sometimes utilised as the No. 10, he thrives on picking the ball up from deep and single-handedly opening passing lanes with immaculate close control. His first touch is divine and with the ball at his feet he resembles Riyad Mahrez in full flow. Glue on his feet.

Being lightning quick, his acceleration from receiving the ball and weight of touch opens the pitch for progression, where he either carries at pace (91st percentile for completed dribbles and 98th percentile for carries into the final third) or feeds to ball forward (77th percentile for progressive passing). Those progressive passing stats are very high for those who play as ‘wingers’, showcasing his love of dropping deep.

What also opens the door for a central role – perhaps best on the left of a midfield three – is his defensive actions, primarily those that come in his own third, as those elsewhere can miscue the data. Sitting in the top 97th percentile for tackles won per 90, he also averages 0.78 in the defensive third, placing him in the 85th percentile. Brest are a majorly dreadful side and accrue very little possession, thus his obligation to defend has seen this area improve.

Averaging 4.67 SCA (shot creating actions) per 90 minutes – helped by incredible dead ball ability – he sticks out like a sore thumb in a Brest side that finished 17th in Ligue 1 and one point from relegation.

His talent is unquestionable and he’s broke into the French Under-21 side, and even though his deal runs until 2025, cash-strapped Ligue 1 clubs will welcome cash injections wherever they can come.

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