Arsenal: Ilaix Moriba Barca development a transfer invitation

Arsenal Must Try Their Hand at Signing Ilaix Moriba From Barcelona

A new offer has been presented to Moriba by Barcelona but he (or his representatives) are not looking like agreeing to those terms.

Unless a compromise can be met, and at present it’s growing increasingly unlikely that is to be the case, Moriba will be sold so as to avoid risking him walking away for free in 12 months’ time.

Every club in Europe should be on the phone right now. Including Arsenal.

The midfielder is the quintessential box-to-box profile. Big in the tackle in his own half but at his belligerent best when driving with the ball, he’s built to play in midfield.

Standing at nearly 6’1″ he boasts excellent pace which is unusual for midfielders of his ilk. A La Masia graduate is expected to have a high level of technical ability and Moriba, while still very early in his development, is finding ways to blend that with the athletic carrying ability of a marauding winger.

Having only played 542 minutes of football last season across 14 matches, all his numbers have to be tempered with the obvious caveat of sample size, as well as when he comes on in matches which is usually when Barcelona are comfortably winning near the end.

Nonetheless, with a good pinch of salt, he has a npxG+xA of 0.32 (95th percentile) and 96+ percentile passing accuracy across all ranges. Similarly he’s 99th percentile for pressing in the middle and final third with all other elements of his game delightfully in line with the requirements of a box-to-box player.

While this can’t be taking at absolute value they do offer an indication of his mindset and approach in matches.

A special talent who on his current trajectory wouldn’t just flourish in the Premier League, but flourish everywhere. It is hard to ignore the Paul Pogba comparisons though, and his frame with some work in the gym would be also tailor-made for English football, which is why no club shouldn’t be trying their hand this summer.

What are Arsenal’s chances? Probably not great. They do, however, have a good relationship with Barcelona and the Spanish connection with Mikel Arteta may appeal to the Guinean-born 18-year-old, who has represented Spain at Under-17 level.

Arsenal are known for giving opportunities to young players and while the current state of the midfield is crying out for a certified starter – and Albert Sambi Lokonga is the young addition to be made this summer – opportunities like Moriba are always worth trying for.