For the first time in a long time, potentially ever, there is a strong argument to be made that Arsenal are the best team in the world at the moment.
Mikel Arteta’s side are clear atop the Premier League table and, following their 3-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, are now clear atop the Champions League table as well.
This incredible run of form probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, as the club have built a squad full to bursting with world-class talent, and even then, their most important player, Bukayo Saka, is yet to find his best form.
At his best, the Hale Ender is a total game-changer, and so fans should be hugely excited about reports linking Arsenal to another attacking monster who has been compared to him.
Arsenal target another Saka-type star
With the winter transfer window now rapidly approaching, Arsenal have started to be linked with a host of brilliant players.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, for example, has been touted for a £100m move to the Emirates, as has Porto’s £79m Samu Aghehowa.
Yet, while both of these brilliantly talented players would improve the Gunners’ squad, neither one can be compared to Saka, unlike Michael Olise.
Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now one of a few teams plotting to sign the Bayern Munich monster next year.
Alongside the North Londoners, Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly keen on the French international, who has been nothing short of world-class since his move to Germany.
However, on top of the immense competition, the Gunners will have to stump up a massive fee of up to €140m to get their man, which is about £123m.
With that said, while it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, Olise’s immense ability and similarity to Saka make it one Arsenal should fight for.
How Olise compares to Saka
One of the most significant comparisons between Saka and Olise comes from FBref, which ranks the Englishman as the eighth-most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman across Europe’s top five leagues.
The best way to understand how this conclusion has been reached is to examine the underlying numbers in which the pair rank closely.
In this instance, the metrics include non-penalty expected goals, progressive carries, shot-creating actions, successful take-on percentage, and more, all per 90.
Progressive Passes Received
12.5
12.4
Goals per Shot
0.14
0.11
Goals per Shot on Target
0.30
0.22
Key Passes
2.53
2.21
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.42
0.35
Tackles Won
0.53
0.58
Carries into the Final Third
2.84
2.56
On top of these statistical similarities, they are both seen as two of the best players for two massive clubs.
However, while it’s great that the former Crystal Palace star can be compared to the Gunners’ talismanic number seven, there are other reasons the North Londoners should be looking to sign him, such as his output.
For example, while he failed to score on Wednesday night, the 23-year-old has racked up a tally of nine goals and ten assists in 19 appearances this season, totalling 1538 minutes.
That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every game, or every 80.94 minutes, which more than justifies Oliver Glasner’s former claim that he’s “one of the best talents in the world.”
It’s not just this year that the 13-capped international has been an output machine, though, as last year he was just as dangerous.
In 55 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3842 minutes, he produced 43 goal involvements, which comes out to an average of one every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes.
Ultimately, it would cost an arm and a leg, but Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Olise next year, as, like Saka already is, he could be a real game-changer.
Arteta now has an even better duo than Gabriel & Saliba at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta has created an Arsenal team full of incredible partnerships, including one better than Saliba & Gabriel.
1 ByJack Salveson Holmes
