Mikel Arteta could reveal Brazil’s next North London success story… jamie-bynoe-gittens-gabriel-martinelli-arsenal-opinion After an impressive start to the 2023/24 campaign, Arsenal have set their sights on the January transfer window, which will give Mikel Arteta the chance to strengthen his squad. The Spaniard has already seen 50 minutes of the Premier League season with a side injury and poor form since the opening day when summer signing Jurrien Timber suffered a knock. Along with the Dutchman, the Gunners’ first-team host has also taken time to recover from injury for the first 12 games of the league campaign, and the issue of Arsenal’s lack of squad depth is once again evident. Last season, Arteta’s side set an unwanted record when they became the first Premier League side to go 248 days without winning the title, with injuries at home dampening the club’s hopes of a first crown since 2004. As the January window approaches, the manager could limit the damage caused by the squad’s lack of depth to avoid a repeat of that fate, with a number of targets reportedly identified. Arsenal’s January transfer target As reported by The Mirror , Arsenal are prioritizing midfield reinforcements in January, with Aston Villa boss Douglas Luiz said to be a prime target. The Gunners approached the Brazilian in the summer of 2022 after Villa rejected three attempts to sign their midfielder, who signed an improved deal months later. Transfer of Luiz-Villa-Spurs-Ange-Guimaraes-Premier League With a new contract in place and his importance to Unai Emery paramount, securing the 25-year-old will be difficult, but he is not the only Brazil international said to be a target for the north Londoners. A report from the Standard this week revealed that Arsenal are battling Chelsea for the signature of highly-rated Corinthians teenager Gabriel Moscardo. The Standard reported that the Blues’ initial £18m bid for the defensive midfielder was rejected, with the Brazilian side looking to pay around £26m for their star. Moscardo-Corinthians Given the added need for Arteta in midfield, Moscardo’s future moves at the Emirates could be closely watched ahead of the January window. Gabriel Moscardo’s style of play Standing at 6ft 1, the 2005-born showpiece has caught the eye of European clubs for good reason as his dominance in midfield is something his boyhood club have benefited from. The youngster broke into the Corinthians first team in the summer and has since made 23 senior appearances in all competitions in the 2023 Brazilian football calendar. Positioned in midfield and capable of playing as a sole defensive option or pivot, scout Jacek Kulig described the youngster as “a good box-to-box player” in a comprehensive scouting report. Kulig cited the Brazilian’s ability to carry the ball, high defensive IQ and passing distance as his strengths and called the teenager a “natural leader” for his commanding presence in the engine room. [FBCharts] Gabriel Moscardo Such praise is supported by Moscardo’s statistics per 90 in the last year of his rise, where he averages 1.49 progressive moves and a monstrous 3.17 tackles per 90, reporting his actions in defending the back via FBref. With just 23 caps and no experience in European football, the midfielder’s £20m fee could be a questionable hurdle for Arsenal, even if it wasn’t the first time the Gunners had struck gold in Brazil. . Arsenaland#039; successful recruitment of Brazil Although Moscardo remains a fairly low-profile star, the 18-year-old can follow a number of success stories before him in North London. Firstly, the club’s current sporting director, Edu Gaspar, was signed by Premier League side Corinthians in 2001, winning two Premier League titles as a player, and his stature at the Emirates remains significant. edu-ousmane-diomande-arsenal-premier-league The Gunners also signed Brazilian team-mate Gilberto Silva, who arrived from Athletic Mineiro to go on to win two Premier League titles and become a key part of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles. South American talents have done the north Londoners plenty of favors in the past and present, and Edu’s expertise was the driving force behind Gabriel Martinelli’s takeover from Arsenal in 2019. How Moscardo could repeat the success of Gabriel Martinelli Like Moscardo now, nobody knew about Martinel, for whom the Gunners paid just £6 million for just four years ago. Arriving as an 18-year-old, not many predicted the full-back’s success at the Emirates, with the signing fee alone proving to be a priceless bargain. Today, 22-year-old Arteta is a key member of the squad and has made 144 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 35 goals and providing 22 assists, and his market value has risen to a staggering €150m (£131m). according to the football observatory. Martinelli-Arsenal-Man-City-Celebrate With the Gunners interested in another Brazilian teenager, they may just be looking for a new South American prodigy, with U23 scout Antonio Mango already calling Moscardo a “serious ball player”. As for how the 18-year-old was able to mimic Martinelli’s moves in North London, his style of play suits the Premier League player demographic. When the 22-year-old first arrived at the Emirates, it was his patience and confidence in picking out left-backs that made him the first in the area. Gabriel Moscardo 2023 Serie A v Rice and Partey 2023/24 Premier League Statistical Gabriel Moscardo Declan Rice the party of Thomas Input accuracy % 83% 92% 92% Interceptions per game 1.1 1.3 1.0 Games by game 2.1 2.0 1.5 Game refunds 3.6 5.0 6.0 Successful drops per game 1.2 0.5 1.5 Total duel wins per game 4.9 3.9 4.0 Figures via Sofascore Moscardo can repeat his success with his ball-playing and combativeness in midfield as Arteta prepares for his hunt to find a midfield warrior to complement Declan Rice and become Thomas Partey’s successor. Looking at the graphic above, it’s clear that despite being in the early days of his career, the teenager is showing the basics to follow in the Arsenal duo.
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