Arsenal make Sergino Dest transfer approach at Barcelona

Sergino Dest Would a Logical Signing at Arsenal Under Mikel Arteta

With Hector Bellerin due to leave this summer, who Arsenal bring in needs to offer similar attacking strengths, with the welcome addition of being much better than the Spaniard, of course.

Neither Cedric nor Calum Chambers are especially attack-minded full-backs who will make penalty box entries frequently and the desire for a front-footed option means links to Dest make sense.

What the USMNT international offers is huge attacking output backed up by outstanding ball retention. His time with Ajax, albeit only short in the first team, and across his sole season in La Liga demonstrated this.

Boasting 96th percentile figures for progressive carries and 98th for carries into the penalty area, his trademark incisive runs into the box illustrate his attacking intentions and the speed of these movements are particularly threatening.

Dest’s defensive numbers don’t stack up as highly but they come with the caveat of Barcelona’s usual dominance in La Liga. With low tackling numbers, highlighting his excellent pace, strong technical ability and direct approach instead shows his usage in a possession-based team as well as his threat in transition.

Whether he is the right choice or not rests on Arteta’s shoulders but it would make sense for him to be among their options given his skillset.

Or maybe there is a change of pace with the profile, in which case Arteta may look to another Barcelona right-back.

Continued…