Arsenal’s season of disappointments has finally come to an end.
While it would be fair to say that they probably exceeded expectations in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side certainly underdelivered in the Premier League.
Now, injuries and suspensions certainly played their part in this, but many of the Gunners’ first-team stars have been seriously underwhelming, including the reigning Player of the Year, Martin Odegaard.
In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the Norwegian’s lacklustre form could cost him his place in the team next season, as one of the league’s most exciting midfielders has now been touted for a move to the Emirates.
Arsenal transfer news
With yet another trophyless season under their belt, it seems as if Arsenal are determined to make significant additions to the team this summer, as the last few weeks have seen them linked to a number of seriously talented players, such as Eberechi Eze and Kaoru Mitoma.
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The former has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract, and while that is a lot of money, he’s certainly worth it, as on top of playing a key role in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.
Mitoma could end up costing the Gunners around £80m and has amassed a reasonable enough tally of ten goals and four assists in 36 games.
However, another name has now entered the picture, someone who could end up being the perfect upgrade on Odegaard: Morgan Gibbs-White.
Yes, according to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Nottingham Forest star this summer.
The report claims that Arteta views the Englishman as the ‘perfect option’ to add some added drive and tenacity to the Gunners’ midfield next season, although he could be an expensive addition, with prior stories claiming he could cost around £100m.
It would likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gibbs-White’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Odegaard.
How Gibbs-White compares to Odegaard
So, the first thing to say is that even though Gibbs-White is talented and capable enough of playing in several different positions, from right-wing to central midfield, his best and most played position is undoubtedly attacking midfield.
Moreover, the ten position is where he has truly excelled and reached another level for Forest this season, so were he to move to Arsenal in the summer, it seems like a sure bet that he would come in to play as the most attacking player in the midfield.
Therefore, his most significant competition for game time at the Emirates would be Odegaard, so how do the pair stack up against one another?
Well, when it comes down to their pure output from this season, which is ultimately what matters most and what the Gunners need to focus on, it’s the Tricky Trees star who comes out on top.
For example, in 38 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3142 minutes, the “exceptional” 25-year-old, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, scored seven goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.23 games, or every 184.82 minutes.
Appearances
38
45
Minutes
3142
3447′
Goals
7
6
Assists
10
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.44
0.4
Minutes per Goal Involvement
184.82
191.5′
In contrast, the North Londoners’ captain scored six goals and provided 12 assists in 45 games, totalling 3447 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Norwegian star, the difference is even more stark when we just look at their Premier League record, as his tally of 11 goal involvements in 30 games comes out to an average of one every 2.72 games.
In contrast, the Forest ace’s haul of 17 in 34 appearances comes out to one every other game.
Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more goals and assists to their midfield next season, and while Odegaard may well get back to his best, Gibbs-White has shown that he can do just that.
Therefore, even though it’ll cost a king’s ransom, the North Londoners should do what they can to bring him in.
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