Arsenal: Is Jonathan David the perfect striker target?

Jonathan David’s Attacking Qualities Stand Out

14 games into the Ligue 1 season and David has clocked up ten goals already. Take his three goalless substitute appearances out of the equation while throwing in two Champions League strikes and those numbers make for even more pleasant viewing.

In terms of the role he plays with Lille, it’s not too dissimilar to the one he had for Gent. Operating as the advanced attacking midfielder behind two strikers in a 3-4-1-2 shape, he now plays as the second striker in a 4-4-2 system.

Immediately there will be Lacazette style bells ringing, but, worry not, David definitely leans more toward the centre-forward role than the No. 10. A large part of that is because he’s very quick.

An excellent option to have in transition and on counter-attacks, when Lille defend he is the furthest forward player ready to bend runs into space where his clever movement can come to the fore. Picking out defenders’ blindspots and being spontaneous with his runs, this mature level of reading the game is uncommon in players of his age.

Attacking spaces as he does, this diversity of movement sees him pop up in various zones around the box where he can fire shots off with either foot: he is exceptionally two-footed.

Because he isn’t a penalty box poacher as such, he ranks only 17th percentile for total shots (fbref), a volume that is counteracted by the quality. Registering a massive 58.9% of his shots on target with an average xG per shot of 0.20, he is in the 99th percentile for the quality of his efforts: on average he scores with near enough every three shots.

Not someone to need a second invitation, his predatory instincts around the 18-yard box see him score a healthy number of goals from broken play. Foreseeing the drop of the ball or a deflection, he gets himself into the right areas to punish the opposition.

Finding his feet in Lille and now bursting with confidence, David’s intelligent use of possession and dynamism in forward areas is balanced with strength to protect the ball and bring others into play. Clocking an 80% passing accuracy and 97th percentile final third pressures, he’s someone with the framework to be a lethal striker for many years to come.

All of which sounds rather inviting. But, are there any chinks in the armour of a deadly striker working his way up to the elite bracket?

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