Arsenal: 7 Martin Odegaard transfer alternatives

Arsenal don’t look like they’ll be signing Martin Odegaard this summer transfer window with the Gunners’ chances of bringing the midfielder back to north London from Real Madrid now classed as ‘slim’. It’s going to prompt a rethink from the club.

It can be deemed encouraging to see the club head into the window with one clear target in mind. Despite numerous links to other playmakers, Odegaard has been the priority target which at least bodes well for Arsenal having a plan in mind.

With that now looking highly unlikely, where there is less clarity is in the profile of player. Emi Buendia, for example, boasts an entirely different skillset to the Norwegian and unless the pair were being looked at with a view to signing both, it leaves some confusion.

What is certain is that another No. 10 will arrive this summer.

Arsenal: 7 Martin Odegaard transfer alternatives in summer market as Real Madrid take stance on Norwegian’s future

There is an outstanding amount of talent across Europe in every position and missing out on one target should not constitute a meltdown. Especially now, with the Premier League being the only division with any real financial clout, there are deals to be made.

Taking advantage of the likes of Ligue 1’s situation and Serie A’s troublesome predicament means Arsenal can find players to suit the needs of the club. Furthermore, there are plenty of options that won’t force £50m outlays.

In terms of like-for-like alternatives, Arsenal wouldn’t need to bring in a carbon copy of Odegaard depending on how they strengthen the midfield area and what formation they opt for. While the 22-year-old fell into the progressive passer mould, there is absolute scope for a carrier or bigger goal threat play in the No. 10 slot depending on other factors.

Due to that, the net can be bigger and cast wider in regards to the profile of player. Europe is awash with talent from all over the world and in the hunt for the right man for Arsenal, there are seven suggestions they could look at.

1. Lorenzo Pellegrini – Roma

A player that won’t be unfamiliar to Arsenal fans, or indeed the club itself, is Lorenzo Pellegrini, who the club have been tracking since as far back as 2017 when he was a Sassuolo player. He’s been closely monitored ever since.

What could draw Arsenal to the 24-year-old is, you guessed it, his versatility.

Pellegrini can play anywhere in midfield, from a deeper defensive slot up to a creative No. 10. This season he’s fluctuated between roles but maintained outstanding high standards throughout. Seven goals and six assists in Serie A were backed up by a 0.29 xA per 90 ranking for a 93rd percentile, which when compared to midfielders (instead of attacking midfielders and wingers) is 99th percentile worthy.

A progressive passer with an eye for the defence splitting ball, his SCA and GCA are all desirably high with through balls, switches and passes into the penalty area all strong suits on his repertoire.

At 24 years old he’s at an excellent age and, interestingly, with Granit Xhaka on the way to Roma there is already a line of communication opened up between the clubs. What’s even better is that he only has 12 months left on his deal and a €30m release clause (payable in two separate installments) included in his contract.

Where the struggles may lie is convincing him to leave his boyhood club for a Premier League side not in Europe. With Arsenal keeping tabs on him well over a year, it will be interesting to see whether it’s an idea floated Roma’s way.

2. Nikola Vlasic – CSKA Moscow

Nikola Vlasic? Didn’t he play for Everton and do…pretty much nothing?

You would be correct. The first thought that will come to mind with the Croatian will be his spell at Goodison Park, which was incredibly underwhelming. In 12 Premier League appearances featuring out on the right wing of a 4-2-3-1 he clocked up a miserable 0.04 xG per 90 and 0.12 xA per 90, among the lowest in the division.

However he has transformed himself since departing Merseyside for CSKA Moscow, finding a new lease of life operating at the No. 10 in the same system.

Vlasic sits in the 86th percentile for ball progression, making him the fifth best of attacking midfielders in the top five European leagues this season, while his eye for goal has not gone unnoticed either. 11 goals from 24 Premier Liga outings was followed by five assists, as the 23-year-old uses surprisingly strong dribbling ability to weave through challenges and have a pop at goal. He rarely turns down a chance to shoot.

Under contract with CSKA until 2024, if he’s given his chance to shine for Croatia in the European Championships his value could certainly increase and entice other European clubs. What he wouldn’t be, however, is a crowd pleaser.

Arsenal fans won’t be overawed by someone classed as an Everton flop, even if he’s come on leaps and bounds since his last spell in England. Vlasic profiles very well, but perhaps doesn’t pique much excitement.

3. Christoph Baumgartner – Hoffenheim

A poor season by every account for Hoffenheim was brightened up by the performances of 21-year-old Christoph Baumgartner.

The Austrian matched his goal contribution tally from the 2019/20 campaign with 11 for the 11th place side, coming in the form of six goals and five assists. Being utilised across the three behind the striker for Hoffenheim, Baumgartner has also featured deeper in a central midfield slot although looks distinctly more comfortable, and dangerous, further up the pitch.

An excellent technical level is boosted by his own glowing self-belief, regularly attempted flicks and tricks as he attempts to unlock opportunities for a side desperately lacking in creative output.

As for defensive contribution – that which is he forced to do plenty of – superb positioning and tackling numbers see him offer stability in his own third. Averaging 2.79 tackles and interceptions per 90 and sitting in the 99th percentile for shots blocked, it’s clear his time in a struggling side has improved that area of his game.

His pressing stats are also very strong, sitting in the 99th percentile for successful pressures, 93rd percentile for tackles won and 94th percentile for ball recoveries. Despite being just 5’9″ tall, his leap is fantastic and he’s in the 99th percentile for aerials won.

That’s all great, but what about attacking output? His stats aren’t the most alluring for those departments but mitigation comes in the form of the team he plays for. Superb dribbling ability and excellent technique with his right foot is something that could be unlocked with greater levels of technical security around him, thus knowing whether he’s an excellent fit comes down to extensive and meticulous scouting.

Baumgartner does look like an excellent rising talent, however, and he started in Austria’s opening 3-1 Euro 2020 win over North Macedonia. Will that please fans, though? Unlikely, and more experience in that department will surely be looked at even if he’s in for a very bright future.

4. Aleksandr Golovin – Monaco

Someone who profiles excellently for what Arsenal are after is Aleksandr Golovin, who put himself in the shop window three years ago with some fine displays for Russia as they narrowly missed out on the World Cup semi-finals with a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia.

Another player who fits the ‘I can play pretty much anywhere mould’, Golovin burst into life last season when Niko Kovac was finally able to play him following a lengthy hamstring injury. Out of action for 14 league matches, he came back into the side and helped elevate Monaco into title contenders before eventually finishing in third place.

Playing just 21 times in Ligue 1 (12 starts), Golovin racked up an impressive five goals and nine assists, giving him a npxG+xA of 0.64 which has him in the 95th percentile. 3.03 key passes per game is also 98th percentile worthy while his passing numbers from dead ball or otherwise demonstrate his importance to Monaco in link-up, build-up and tempo dictation. Of all, his 10.86 (99th percentile) passes under pressure highlight his excellent close control and press evasion.

Given he also plays deeper, his tackling and interception numbers are exceptional while for every pressure statistic other than defensive third pressures he’s 98th percentile or higher.

Really silky on the ball, quick off the ground and superb playing inside or outside, what will please Premier League fans above all is his 3,353 lungs. Hyperbole, yes (maybe), but there are few footballer in world football who can run like Golovin and never, ever tire. Already in Euro 2020 he’s clocked the biggest distance ran with 12.5km, while his ridiculous 16km covered against Spain in 2018 topped all the charts.

One to look at for.

5. Daichi Kamada – Eintracht Frankfurt

Remember Unai Emery’s Arsenal swansong against Eintracht Frankfurt? Daichi Kamada scored both goals that day. They were sadly quite good ones, too.

This season, however, he’s improved immensely, added greater creativity and has been far more clinical with his actions in the final third. Last season, only two players in Europe’s top five leagues contributed more than his 15 assists, and one of them was his teammate, Filip Kostic.

His xG from shot creation as well as ball progression is both in the 90th percentiles, often coming from central positions where he majorly lined up as one of two No. 10’s behind Andre Silva at Eintracht.

Kamada’s ability in that area is heightened by superb two-footedness, quick bursts of pace and great balance and agility. Clever ball manipulation in that area opens up spaces to attack and his movement in and around the half-spaces is always with an eye on the next move, usually forward-thinking.

Scoring well for passes under pressure, key passes and passes into the final third, his actual volume of passes don’t add up as highly compared to other players of his ilk due to Frankfurt’s use of wide areas. From here the 24-year-old is a strong reader of the game and the timing of his runs into the box showcases that.

Kamada is someone who likes to take risks. Whether with a deep run or a defence-splitting pass, this willingness is something Arsenal have lacked many times throughout the last 18 months.

6. Bukayo Saka – Arsenal

Cheating! Yes, kind of.

Everyone knows how magnificent Bukayo Saka is. He’s just wonderful. Arsenal’s star boy. And, he’s also got all the attributes to be a No. 10 further down the line.

As it stands, Saka’s best position is out on the right. An argument can be made for him being just as strong from the left as Kieran Tierney brings the best out of most, but he’s found his inverted groove on that flank.

Moving Saka into central role where he can drift into the left and right half-spaces would open up his abilities as a force in transition, build-up and final third cutting edge. In doing so, Nicolas Pepe could assume the right-winger role he arguably deserves and Emile Smith Rowe can interchange with Saka throughout.

Would Arsenal still need to sign another No. 10 if Saka is moved to that position permanently? It wouldn’t work out quite so smoothly, unfortunately, despite the 19-year-old possessing all the traits to fulfill that role. Having both him and Smith Rowe on the pitch is what supporters, and Arteta, will want.

Arguably Arsenal’s two best players last season, sharing the workload for Smith Rowe is the reason for securing another playmaker and if the two rotate the position it doesn’t solve a great deal since Saka will just have to play even more games. We want them both on the pitch.

However, it’s an option to look at more closely given Pepe’s blistering form on the right and Saka’s impressive outings – no matter how small the sample size is – in central pockets. He can certainly develop into that role in the future and more dabbles with the position next season could come into effect.

7. Lucas Paqueta – Lyon

This would be where Arsenal take advantage of a situation that, while unfortunate, is there to be exploited. At this moment in time, Ligue 1 is a rich, fishing ground where the tuna on show is available at below market price. French football has been hit hard by the pandemic and the TV licencing issues. The division is struggling.

It may only be Lucas Paqueta’s first season with Lyon after his move from AC Milan in 2020, but he’s found the platform to express his talent having failed to live up to his billing in Italy. Featuring as a central midfielder for long periods of the season – his 99th percentile progressive passes, 96th percentile through balls and 97th percentile passes into the final third make him such a threat from central areas – he’s unlocked his attacking potential since moving into a No. 10 slot in a 4-2-3-1 at the latter end of the season.

Ten goals and assists in the final 13 Ligue 1 outings were where he blossomed. The 23-year-old Brazilian has divine ball control and elegant technique, regularly seen dragging the ball back or Maradona turning beyond a marker. Receiving under pressure on the half turn and exploding into space, his 10.30 passes under pressure per 90 is 99th percentile worthy and his ability to turn the tightest spaces into vast open fields of grass in the blink of an eye is so quintessentially Brazilian.

What heightens an already enticing profile is magnificent defensive work rate and output. For tackles made, won and in every third of the pitch compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers, he is 99th percentile worthy. 3.76 tackles and interceptions per 90 is, again, 99th percentile worthy.

He presses intently, relentlessly and successfully, while he also averages 9.52 ball recoveries, which is, of course, 99th percentile worthy. Keeping the ball high up the pitch is something Arsenal struggle to achieve and Paqueta would change that.

Where are the issues? The only standout one would be his finishing but given the clear strides made to fine-tune that department in the past 12 months it’s something that will continue to improve over time.

Some player he is. There is an ease to everything he does, a natural poise to his movement and Paqueta can be the spark in a dead fusebox. In a depressed market at a broke Lyon, Arsenal should at least take a look.