Arteta getting the benefit of the Wout?

             Quarantined in his London home after testing positive for covid-19, it appears the Bundesliga caught the eye of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Following the conclusion of Germany’s topflight, and amid a turbulent period in Arsenal’s season, the Gunners have been linked with a summer move for Vfl Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst. Arsenal have been tipped as favourites to land the Dutchman but will have to withstand competition from Newcastle United, who are willing to push Arsenal financially under the backing of their new owners.

            For two seasons running only Manchester City (2018/19 champions) and Liverpool (2019/20 champions) have outscored the North London club. Arsenal have last season’s joint top-scorer in their custody, Gabonese striker Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, but are looking to bolster their attacking options further. Arsenal’s rocky season has them 8^th in the table and in jeopardy of missing out on any European competition, a predicament the club hasn’t dealt with since their 12th placed finish in the 1993/94 season. It’s been 3 years since Bayern Munich emasculated Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in the Champions League Round of 16, the Gunners last appearance in the competition. ‘Gooners’ all over the country have come to terms with their now regular Champions League absence, but for a club of Arsenal’s stature and reputation, failure to secure even Europa League football will surely be deemed unacceptable by their exhausted supporters. To steer clear of this slippery-slope Arteta is hoping Weghorst can add extra firepower to their offense.

            Numerous sources are quoting a potential transfer fee of upto £32 million to secure Weghorst’s services. Although this figure seems like spare change compared to the whopping £72 million shelled out for Nicolas Pepe last summer, Arsenal might not have the capital should their European pursuit flatline. There are suggestions that Weghorst may be a replacement for Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette should either of the French born forwards be looking for an out upon the collapse of the Gunners season. For now, though we’ll give Arteta’s men the benefit of the doubt and suggest that Europa League football will return to the Emirate’s in 2020/21.

            I’m sure the Gooners out there are eager to find out what they will get out of Wout Weghorst if the Dutch striker commits to the Londoners over Newcastle. In the simplest term, Weghorst is a reincarnation of former Gunner Olivier Giroud. Listed at 6ft6’ Weghorst is slightly taller than the Frenchman (6ft4’) but the playing style is uncanny. Don’t be fooled by the size of the Wolfsburg striker, whilst he is a fantastic aerial threat, Wout isn’t limited to this role. Weghorst is not exclusively a target man in the sense that Peter Crouch was back in his playing days. The striker can exert his size and frame but loves to drop deeper and help the attack flow. Weghorst is a very versatile striker, reminiscent of Giroud he can hold the ball up and allow the attack to build (something which could reap the benefits of Aubameyang or Lacazette’s pace) or he can flick the ball on, again profiting from the speed of this team. Along with assisting his rapid teammates, the 27-year-old can be a wall to bounce off in Arsenal’s possession-based style. With 16 league goals (Wolfsburg’s top scorer) and 3 assists in 2019/20, Weghorst had a hand in 39% of his team’s Bundesliga goals. In his 32 league appearances last season, the striker picked up 7 yellow cards, a statistic that highlights both his aggressive nature but also his desire to win. Weghorst was a prolific scorer in his native Holland, scoring at will for FC Emmen, Heracles Almelo and AZ Alkmaar before a £9.45 million switch to Wolfsburg in July 2018. There’s no questioning that Weghorst would offer another dimension to Arsenal’s attacking formula, the issue for the Gunners now is clinching Europa League rights to lure Weghorst from the promise of a Newcastle uprising in the North East. Perhaps the forward may be tempted by the challenge that Newcastle poses, only time will tell.

Weghorst would be a welcomed addition to this unit however, Arsenal must address the elephant in the room. Their defensive woes have been the most concerning of Arteta’s issues since they resumed league play a fortnight ago. Despite David Luiz’s infamous cameo away to Manchester City, the Brazilian defender has renewed his contract at the Emirates Stadium albeit with a notable slash in wages. With young left back Kieran Tierney in and out of the treatment room in this, his maiden Premier League season, Arsenal haven’t established their strongest back four all year. Whilst Luiz’s renewal sparked mixed emotions in North London, the former Chelsea defender has reportedly held discussions with former PSG and Brazil centre back partner Thiago Silva about a move to the club. These reports are still in the embryonic stages, however, should Arteta pull it off, he would certainly be bringing some stability to his defence. Further afield a move for Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey has also been noted as a serious possibility. Arsenal could use some sprucing up across the board, specifically in the shape of a field general such as the Ghanaian international.

            Arsenal haven’t progressed sufficiently in this post Arsene Wenger rebuilding era, but the personnel listed above are all incredibly gifted players that can help alter the Gunners from Europa League regulars to top four contenders. Wout Weghorst isn’t the most essential piece of the puzzle surrounding the Emirates Stadium, but his brilliant work rate will undoubtedly lift those around him. As a former Gunner himself, and a rookie manager, Mikel Arteta is sure to be given longer to adapt to life in London then his predecessor Unai Emery. Wout Weghorst could buy the Spaniard valuable time.