4 positives & negatives of Arsenal transfer target Youri Tielemans

Mikel Arteta is a fond admirer of Youri Tielemans, and a deal for the Foxes star could be struck in the summer with his contract running down.

It is no secret that Arteta is hunting for a new midfielder. After permanently signing Martin Odegaard along with Thomas Partey, the Gunners boss wants another star to compliment the pair. That star is reportedly Tielemans of Leicester City.

When a player is brought up in the media that the club wants to sign, fans quickly dismiss or herald the player as the team’s savour.

For Tielemans, he is said to be interested in the Arsenal project under Arteta. The Belgian’s contract only has a year to run, and a bid of just £25 million could be enough for Leicester to give the green light.

4 positives & negatives of Arsenal transfer target Youri Tielemans

But would the signing of Tielemans be the one that Arsenal needs for significant improvement to be made next season? Here are four positives and negatives of the Belgian star.

Positive #1 – Premier League experience

Perhaps the most significant positive to come with the acquisition of the midfielder. There will be no need to give him time to adapt to the rigours and intensity of Premier League football. It is often the knock on players who come into the league, and it takes months for them to acclimatise.

For Tielemans, he will be ready to slot in and start from minute one, which would be a huge advantage. The only thing would be him getting used to his new teammates, and we all know that it doesn’t take long at all in some instances.

There will be no question marks over whether he can cope with the physicality and speed of the best league in the world as he has called it home for the last two-and-a-half seasons. A player ready to go from the first matchday would be a massive help to the Gunners midfield.

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Negative #1 – Question marks defensively

If Tielemans is to be the third player in Arsenal’s midfield, he will have to step up the defensive side of his game.

With Thomas Partey at his best when Granit Xhaka is shielding the back four, Tielemans would likely have to do a similar job. That is not his strong suit, and that can be a cause for concern.

Too often this campaign, we have seen Arsenal get played through far too easily, and with Tielemans, he is not the best defender. So, despite all his superb attributes, the Belgian would have to seriously improve defensively.

The 25-year-old also is not the best in transition either, often getting caught out. Xhaka and Elneny, going the other way on the break for all the good they do, simply get sliced through too easily. This is precisely what Arteta and his staff want to stop.

Arteta would have two Thomas Partey’s in the side for his defensive abilities and his unreal passing range in an ideal world. If Tielemans does seal his move to the Emirates, getting better defensively is job number one.

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Positive #2 – Superb passing range

The one non-negotiable to play for Arsenal is you have to be a great passer, and the Belgian has this in spades. He can spray passes all over the field, and the concept of Tielemans threading through balls to Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Gabriel Martinelli will undoubtedly excite many.

Like Partey, Tielemans is excellent with the ball at his feet and can easily pick out a player. Arsenal’s front three would have the time of their lives with the 25-year-old’s distribution. His ability to switch play, thread the needle in the final third and his shooting ability would elevate Arsenal’s possession play.

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Negative #2– Poor form last season

It would have been an absolute steal if this transfer had been discussed last season for the price being mentioned. Not now. It would be a considerable concern for Arsenal to spend that kind of money on a player that is a shadow of his former self.

As most Leicester fans would tell you, Tielemans form has dropped off a cliff. He is not dominating games and having a stranglehold on them like he used to. His once sensational ball control often lets him down with alarming regularity.

His poor form is thought to be because of Arsenal’s interest and that his heart is no longer in it, which is typical for players who have had their heads turned by other clubs, but such has been the dramatic drop-off it could make Arsenal think twice.