Arsenal transfer rumours: How target Nani compares to the Gunners’ wide men
Following Ivan Gazidis' claim that Arsenal have the finances to spend big this summer, the Gunners have been linked with some of the best and brightest talents in the world.
However, according to latest reports, the club are considering a move for out-of-favour Manchester United winger Luis Nani. The Portuguese was very much a bit-part player last season and with his Old Trafford future far from certain, it is believed he could be available for a cut-price move.
But with Arsenal already boasting the likes of Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Gervinho in wide positions, do they really need another winger? talkSPORT take a look at their stats from last season...
Lukas Podolski
Lukas Podolski's transfer from Cologne last summer was regarded at the time as potentially one of the signings of the summer. During his final season in Germany, Podolski scored 18 league goals in 29 appearances, while playing more as a central striker. It is therefore surprising to see that in some circles his debut season in England has been regarded as below average, despite scoring 11 league goals from a wide position. Of the four wingers being compared, the German made the most league appearances (33), but his frequent substitution meant that he played less minutes than Theo Walcott. A brief look over his figures in the league though paints the image of an efficient, capable winger. While his 11 league goals only trail the total recorded by Walcott (14), they came from just 33 shots, of which nearly two-thirds were on target. However, it is Podolski's overall game which makes him a useful option for Arsene Wenger. His work-rate around the pitch is there for all to see and he boasts the best defensive stats of the four on comparison, a side of his game which perhaps goes without praise.
Theo Walcott
It is interesting to see that what has been deemed as a below-par season for Podolski, mirrors in many aspects what has been regarded as a fantastic season for Theo Walcott. The England international was primarily deployed as a wideman for Arsenal, but his goalscoring exploits warrants a role as a central striker. Despite clamouring for a central role, it must be pointed out that most of his 14 league goals for the Gunners came from Walcott cutting inside, a trait which can be devastating when allied with his pace and shooting. Of the four wingers he was by far the busiest, having 62 attempts on goal, scoring nearly a quarter of them. While he may clamour for a different position, in Walcott, Arsenal have a very effective winger, a fact which is backed up by his tendency to run with the ball – attempting 123 dribbles – and whip in crosses – of which he attempted 173. There can be some similarity drawn between his game and that of Luis Nani, with the Man United's man also showing an ability to run at players and deliver the ball into the box. The suggestions from Nani's figures is that with more game time he could be as effective as Walcott as a winger, however the comparison really stops there.
Gervinho
It is only perhaps in Gervinho that a real comparison can be drawn with Nani. The former Lille man enjoyed a strong start to the campaign – enjoying a scoring run of five goals in the Gunners' opening seven fixtures – but a mixture of injury, loss of form and absence saw his first team opportunities dwindle. Gervinho does perhaps get a rough ride from Arsenal fans and football critics, but statistically speaking he was simply not good enough last season. When comparing him with Nani, both in terms of stats and stylistically, there is a real case for signing the Man United man. Both players operate in a similar style – with the pair willing to run at players and either finish the move with a shot or an attempted delivery. In that regard the numbers err slightly more towards Nani, suggesting that with more game time the Portuguese would have been a more useful asset than Gervinho.
Verdict
Nani's lack of game time is evident in his mixed statistics. The Man United man is undoubtedly a talented footballer, but when comparing him to Arsenal's current attack line, both Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott are on paper superior to him. It is only in Gervinho that there is any real basis for comparison. Despite playing seven less league games, Nani seems much more of a threat than the Ivory Coast international, while also showing an ability to track back and help defend. While it would be hard to make a case for a starting position for Nani, he would certainly bring additional strength to Arsenal's ranks and could offer Arsene Wenger something different in attack.
Arsenal fans, would you welcome Luis Nani to the Emirates? Do you need to strengthen in wide positions, or should other areas be focused on? Let us know below.