Arsenal confident of stunning £60m James Maddison transfer

Is James Maddison a Good Fit for Arsenal?

It wasn’t too long ago when the big debate in England was whether Gareth Southgate should pick Jack Grealish or James Maddison to be his key creator in the Three Lions’ setup. Given how adored the former is by fans across the Premier League, it shows that Maddison has been doing something right.

Up until injury around late February, he wasn’t doing much wrong either.

Netting 11 goals and registering ten assists in just over 30 games before that point, the 24-year-old had found sparkling form under Rodgers. An injury set him back and he failed to add to his goal contributions since, primarily down to a mixture of form, fitness and a disciplinary issue that prompted the Foxes boss to leave a few of his senior players out of the team.

His shooting range, dead ball ability and eye for a killer pass are three of the main ingredients to his excellent pre-injury form, all which are backed up statistically. Sitting in the 95th percentile for through balls, passes into the final third and key passes, his strengths lie in being the connecting piece between midfield and attack, not often seen carrying possession but regularly seen moving it on to the right areas.

A npxG+ xA of 0.49 is 78th percentile worthy which, while not mouth-watering, can be partially attributed to a change of system at the King Power Stadium.

Maddison’s defensive stats indicate where his weakness are, although if you aren’t asked to perform a role then that doesn’t imply you’re unable to carry it out. His pressing stats are non-existent in Leicester’s soak up and break style, while he’s about average for players of his ilk with 1.99 tackles and interceptions per 90 (49th percentile). What does make for pleasant viewing is the number of tackles he makes in the attacking third, which is 91st percentile worthy.

If he has the ball beyond the halfway line however, he comes alive.

Touch, turn and release. For many players that is three movements but Maddison can perform them in one fluid motion. Using his body cleverly on the half-turn, his telepathic understanding with his striker means by the time he’s pressed he fed someone into space. Averaging a 95th percentile 4.86 SCA per 90, his vision in and around the box makes him a constant threat.

How much did a pacey striker like Jamie Vardy flourish with Maddison behind him? There is a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Nicolas Pepe shaped darting run in behind with his name on.

Maddison is a nuisance between the lines, will make those supporting runs, can shoot, spot a pass and be that extra man in link-up play. No wonder Arsenal are keen.