da dobrowin： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
da bet7： According to Sky Deutschland (Live Transfer Blog, 28/10, 18:02), Arsenal are interested in signing Denis Zakaria from Borussia Monchengladbach.
What’s the story?
Unai Emery is currently under pressure at the Emirates Stadium but recent reports have suggested he will be given until the end of the season. If he turns it around, he could be backed in the transfer market.
Sky Deutschland is reporting that the Gunners are after 22-year-old Zakaria, although he would not likely leave before next summer. The fee they would need to pay is said to be €50m (£43.1m).
Watch the moment Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal career may have come to an ugly end in the video below…
The player they wanted Xhaka to be
The Bundesliga man will automatically draw similarities with one current under-fire Arsenal man based purely on his nationality: Granit Xhaka. The two are Switzerland internationals, with Zakaria having 24 caps and Xhaka 78.
Also, the Emirates Stadium outfit bought their current captain from the same German side.
However, his time in north London looks like it could be approaching its end following the unsavoury incident that took place on Sunday against Crystal Palace when the 27-year-old shouted an expletive towards the supporters as they booed him off the field.
History and omens may indicate to many fans the £25.2m-valued (as per Transfermarkt) midfielder currently playing for Die Fohle would have a similar, unwanted impact as Xhaka, but the truth is, he could be everything the Gunners wanted Xhaka to be.
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Zakaria is all action, and the way he has started the season as part of a Gladbach side that is top of the league shows he has a bright future ahead of him.
Defensively this term, he has averaged 2.6 tackles per game in the Bundesliga, which puts him in the top 20, whilst he also has 1.4 interceptions as well. Xhaka, meanwhile, has 2 and 0.4 respectively.
It is perhaps his offensive ability that will draw the eye though.
He has two goals so far, averaging one shot per game. The Arsenal man, however, has failed to get himself on the scoresheet so far and has averaged just 0.7 shots.
It is Zakaria’s ability to beat a man that stands out. He has 2.2 dribbles per match, which puts him in the top 15 in the Bundesliga. In comparison, Xhaka averages 0.3.
Standing at 6 foot 2 compared to 6 foot 1, Zakaria also has a slight height advantage on Arsenal’s number 34, which is an indication he will not get bullied in the Premier League.
Whether Arsenal fans like it or not, their current scapegoat is a big presence on the field for them, and he will need replacing should he depart. Zakaria might well be the man to do it.