Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets

Arsenal will not be signing Emi Buendia this summer and the sooner that spilled milk is stopped crying over, the better. Time to move on and source other targets in this transfer window as Mikel Arteta and co dust themselves down to go again. Time for some alternatives.

Nobody should be particularly enthused by Arsenal’s inability to get this deal over the line, regardless of whether he was the right target or worth the £40m outlay Aston Villa will eventually part with.

It constitutes a recruitment failing, one with both unfortunate and fortunate timing. On the positive note, this happened early into the summer leaving over 12 weeks to make amends, while it can also set a dangerous precedent and show weakness before the window even opens.

Time to move on in any case.

Arsenal: 8 Emi Buendia alternative transfer targets who Mikel Arteta could look at in the summer window

With Martin Odegaard the other primary playmaker target, it’s key to note how different the two players are stylistically. The Norwegian is a No. 10 who flourishes in the right half-space whereas Buendia is a right-winger who has the adaptability to play inside and merge into a No. 8/No. 10 hybrid.

Very different, and very interesting.

Therefore, if Arsenal were to go out and seek a similar(ish) profile to Buendia it would be someone unlike the former loanee. Across Europe players of that ilk are becoming a more common occurrence as full-backs often become the leading wide attacking outlet and the creative wide players drift infield. Buendia excelled at this with his wide-ranging skillset and outstanding defensive contributions, so finding and ‘alternative‘ will prove troublesome.

Working on the basis that another profile of his ilk – a right-sided winger/playmaker who can operate both inside and outside – will be sought after, here are eight options that Arteta may look at in his bid banish these early demons.

*Stats courtesy of fbref and Understat.

Ruslan Malinovskyi – Atalanta

Few players in world football finished last season as strongly as Ruslan Malinovskyi, who hit farcical numbers for Atalanta as they secured a third place finish in Serie A.

The final ten games of the season saw him bag no less than six goals and nine assists, only completing the 90 minutes in two of those. Epitomising the brutality of Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, the controlled carnage of Malinovskyi is invigorating to watch.

Operating on the right as one of the ‘2’ in a 3-4-2-1 system, he progresses the ball better than most. He’s in the 94th percentile or higher for passes into the final third, passes into the penalty area and progressive passes, also clocking an average of 3.32 key passes which is a 99th percentile worthy number.

Given his qualities drifting out to the right, dropping deep and supporting the striker with runs beyond, his xA is another 99th percentile figure with his xG not lagging too far behind.

The lad has three lungs. He doesn’t gallop, he charges. Excelling in every shot creating action, his pressing from the front (a quintessential Atalanta trait) is unmatched and for recovering possession and winning aerial duels he’s also frighteningly effective.

A powerhouse of a forward, he brings goal threat and ball retention in abundance, which obviously means there is a catch, right?

In this case it would be his age (he’s just turned 28) and the difficulty there may be shoehorning him into a different system. The back three setup plays to his strengths as he needn’t be shackled with defensive duties. If Arsenal were Leicester-ish in their approach it may differ, but there would be issues there. Still, the numbers are scary.

Nabil Fekir – Real Betis

An attacking midfielder who is comfortable drifting out on to the right and vice versa? Yeah, it’s not a surprise that Arsenal have been linked with Fekir and have him on their list.

His surprise move to Real Betis following the collapse of his Liverpool deal resulted in a change of role for the Frenchman. Usually granted sole reign of advanced central areas, he finds himself with more space to roam starting out on the right. Being in that slot means he partake in more distance dribbling, take-ons and offensive duels, and cut inside and open up the pitch from a visual standpoint.

This season has seen more of the former, sitting in centralised zones and being allowed to drift around, which allows him to pick up danger areas in and around the box. An excellent close-control dribbler, he averages 4.91 SCA per 90 minutes with those coming from dribbling sitting in the 97th percentile.

His eye for a pass is among the best in La Liga, coming with either foot and with delicate weight. From a visual perspective his diminutive style makes for elegant viewing. Statistically that holds up too, with a 94% dribbling completion and 91st percentile for passes under pressure.

Last season he notched five goals and six assists in 33 La Liga starts, not the most eye-catching numbers but only two Real Betis players scored more than his tally. Borja Iglesias netted 11, and there isn’t much firepower around him.

Nonetheless, his npxG + xA of 0.35 has him in the 42nd percentile, which is not a convincing number for a player supposedly in his prime. With just two years left on his deal and Betis in need of cash a deal could be brokered, but he’d be 28 by the time he arrives and on big wages.

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.

Matheus Pereira – West Brom

No! Never! Arsenal can’t be plucking players from relegated teams or those in the lower leagues! Where is the ambition!

After just seeing a £30m+ bid for Buendia fall through for someone just coming out of the Championship, Matheus Pereira is a name that shouldn’t be entirely discounted. There was precious little for West Brom fans to enjoy upon their return to the Premier League aside from their Brazilian forward, who stuck out like a sore thumb in an otherwise torrid side.

A lovely blend of finesse and power, Pereira has dragged the Baggies through the season almost single-handedly. Scoring only 35 goals all season, the recently turned 25-year-old had a direct hand in 48.5% of them. 11 goals and six assists is an excellent return for someone in their first season of Premier League football in a poor side.

There is eye-catching skill in what he does. Left-footed, his drag backs and flicks are neat and tidy – he averages 0.32 nutmegs per game(!) – while his delivery both from standstill and on the move is delicate. In a side without any prolific strikers, his 1.99 key passes is commendable as so often laborious movement cuts off meaningful avenues to create.

With West Brom being relegated he will be available on the cheap (£15m-£20m), making him an exciting option at a good age. With so much of his work being centrally with wide receiving and half-space movement, he does fit the bill of a Buendia alternative.

Is he exactly the addition to come in and lift the bar considerably? It’s a tough one to call after a season spent in a side lacking attacking output, but in any case a Premier League move beckons.

Pedro Goncalves – Sporting CP

Some players are hard to ignore, even if they operate outside of Europe’s ‘top five’ divisions. The big name around the continent right now is Pedro Goncalves, and it’s little wonder why.

He’s the one that got away for Wolves, who had him on their books for two years but only gave him one competitive appearance for the club prior to returning to his native Portugal. Now with Sporting, he’s on a different planet.

An exceptionally high level of technical ability means Goncalves is a threat in every area of the pitch. For Sporting he lines up as the right-sided one of two wandering No. 10’s behind the striker, given license to drop deep and spread play or push high and wide. Pretty much everywhere. For someone who is not a striker, 23 goals in 34 Primeira Liga matches is nothing to scoff at. He averaged 0.86 goals or assists per 90 minutes in 2020/21.

For someone so effective in the final third, averaging 1.3 tackles and 5.1 duels won per 90 is a testament to his battling qualities at either end of the pitch. Often it’s almost as if he takes too much upon himself, but that would be unfair given his goal output.

Only 22 years old and in his first season with the club, any side wanting to lure him away will have to pay big money to do so. Sporting sold Bruno Fernandes for a hefty fee and with someone on their books considered the second coming of him (he’s more agile and quick but not as much of a creative force), any sale will be costly.

His outstanding form can’t be ignored, however. Sporting won their first league title since 2002 and without his intervention that would certainly have been a different story. Is this level of contribution sustainable? It’s an expensive but elusive question to answer.

Julian Brandt – Borussia Dortmund

The 2018/19 Julian Brandt was electric. Most of what has followed since? Less so.

As it is the transfer window and it is Arsenal that we all love dearly, it comes as no surprise for the club to be once again linked with a move for the unbelievably versatile German. Everything known about him tells the story of him being a reserve option to the targets Arsenal are truly interested in, which makes him much less desirable.

What does Arteta want? Does he want a right-sided No. 8/10 who can drift into wide spaces for overloads as well as into deeper half-spaces, or does he want a right-winger with the tactical flexibility to interchange across the frontline and play in varying sized spaces? He’ll want to lot.

And in order to get a bit of everything, players like Brandt become interesting as he does near enough the lot. The question is whether he does all of these elements to a high enough standard.

On the passing front, he’s near faultless. Short, medium or long; drilled, lofted or weighted, his range is very strong. In terms of volume he’s in the 99th percentile for near enough every single passing and accuracy statistic, only coming up short for short pass completion, which is down in the 71st percentile. Someone who is progressive with his passing (5.17 p/90) and who gets it into the final third (4.21 p/90), he knows where the ball should be.

The issue is, of course, how much he’s gone off the boil in 18-24 months. Six goals and ten assists in his last 64 Bundesliga outings constitutes a significant drop off from his earlier numbers. A npxG + xA of 0.31 per 90 minutes is only worthy of 33rd percentile.

How much of that is the lack of regular minutes and positional rotation, though? Is this someone who needs a fresh start?

Up for sale with three years left on his deal, having just turned 25 and available for around £25m, are Arsenal the team to revitalise him?

Domenico Berardi – Sassuolo

As mad as it sounds, there are actually other players who play for Sassuolo other than Manuel Locatelli. Some of them are pretty darn brilliant, too.

Domenico Berardi is not the quintessential Buendia alternative. The Italian is distinctly one footed, almost solely operating on his favoured left foot as he plays as an inverted winger.

With 17 goals in last season’s Serie A (seven penalties) and eight assists he’s been one of the standout players in the division, earning himself a spot in Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020 side where he’s maintained an excellent run of form in front of goal – he has five goals in his last six international outings.

He’s an interesting profile. Not blessed with electric pace, his (very) heightened technical ability means he is comfortable drifting around the box and operating in tight spaces. As far as a creative source, he excels in all SCA, with an overall average of 4.74 per 90 minutes putting him in the top 94th percentile.

The timing of his movements are particularly enjoyable, with his late third man runs and diagonal entries into the box. Berardi offers a neat blend of linking option and runner in beyond, which make him useful operating in central areas across the forward line.

Playing in the hole his accuracy through the lines make him adept as a No. 10, although being so one-footed the right-sided No. 8 slot wouldn’t really suit, yet such excellent ball control and vision make him a threat even with bodies in front.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old is in exceptional form and his flair do make him effective anywhere beyond the halfway line. Might not come too cheap but he’s tipped to be star at the Euros which could easily sky-rocket his price.

Dani Olmo – RB Leipzig

Dani Olmo would be perfect in this Arsenal side as a floating No. 10 hybrid. Absolutely perfect. Although that can be said of most clubs, he really is that talented.

And before we delve deep, yes, it would require some serious money to prise him away from RB Leipzig considering he’s only been there for 18 months and is under contract until 2024. But he’d fit in like a glove.

Spain’s most versatile forward is comfortable playing on either wing, as a No. 8 or No. 10 and does just about everything one could want from someone in any of those positions. Technically astounding, his control in tight spaces and ability to receive and give the ball under pressure is his best quality.

Averaging 10.15 passes under pressure per 90 sees him sit in the 98th percentile, with his charming ability to draw the opposition in and release with ease making him lethal in the final third. It’s in those spaces where he delights, making 3.81 passes into the final third, 2.19 passes into the penalty area and 5.60 progressive passes per 90 minutes.

While he carries the ball he isn’t a progressive carrier, instead always looking to win the ball high up the pitch to sustain periods attack: 6.45 successful pressures for a 34.7% completion is worthy of 99th percentile. In play his SCA from live passes averages at 3.18 per 90 minutes for 93rd percentile and a staggering 9.24 ball recoveries per game epitomises his worth in the final third.

Arsenal don’t sustain and they don’t recycle quick enough. For the spells where they are camped outside the opposition box they need those with the security and vision to probe and produce. Olmo provides all of that.

If you’re wanting someone to maximize possession, raise the tempo through the third and complement the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, there are few better.