Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets

By Ross Kennerley

Stuttgart's Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo (R) is chased by Leipzig's French midfielder Christopher Nkunku (C) and Leipzig's Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo (L) during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 25, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / various sources / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Stuttgart's Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo (R) is chased by Leipzig's French midfielder Christopher Nkunku (C) and Leipzig's Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo (L) during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 25, 2021. - DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / various sources / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Christopher Nkunku
FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, GERMANY – MARCH 06: Christopher Nkunku of RB Leipzig celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between Sport-Club Freiburg and RB Leipzig at Schwarzwald-Stadion. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images) /

Christopher Nkunku – RB Leipzig

Christopher Nkunku’s name is one Arsenal fans will be very familiar with. Back in his Paris Saint-Germain days, he was one of the club’s prime targets under Unai Emery. Lacking speed and dynamism in wide areas with a player who had strong technical ability to slot into the interior, he seemed like the perfect fit.

At the time he was a central option for PSG but his move to RB Leipzig has seen that profile change. Under Julian Nagelsmann the side adopted numerous formations, all designed to add diversity in advanced areas, and Nkunku has flourished in almost all of them.

While said wide options are predominantly off the left, he’s also featured at centre-forward and in attacking central areas, thus it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where he’s best suited. Overall you’d say central areas but his speed and grace of touch mean he’s adept on either flank. This list is looking at right-sided options but Nkunku gets a pass.

Six goals and six assists in the Bundesliga, coming from 28 appearances and just 19 starts, mean his attacking statistics make for fine reading. A npxG+xA figure of 0.60 per 90 minutes has him in the 91st percentile, with these figures stacking up well against midfielders, winger and strikers.

As for vision his capability with either foot and low centre of gravity help him make room for dangerous positions, demonstrated by his 3.12 key passes per game (91st percentile). He also takes corners. Good ones, too!

Overall it’s his adaptability that stands out. For an Arsenal team not in Europe, players who can fulfill multiple roles become more valuable and given he isn’t a regular start for RB Leipzig, and there is a new manager coming in with potentially new ideas, there is scope for a move. Under contract until 2024, a fee short of £30m is said to be enough for the 23-year-old.

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