Along with their pursuit of Declan Rice, Arsenal may soon reach an agreement with West Ham United for one of their English talent.
What’s new with Ben Johnson going to Arsenal?
ExWHUemployee, an insider, provided a transfer update on the promising defender for the Hammers, Ben Johnson.
In the report, he made note of the 23-year-old’s continued avoidance of contract negotiations with his hometown club, which has led to them withholding the payments he is seeking. He could move elsewhere if he’s looking for more guarantees from the first team. He probably would feel more at home starting for Everton or as a starter for a squad like Mikel Arteta’s than he does in his current role.
In light of the fact that the Gunners and Toffees appear to be in a tussle for his services, it is important to remember that The Guardian predicted the £11 million-rated stalwart’s departure back in June. This fresh enthusiasm might confirm their assertions.
Ben Johnson: How good is he?
Johnson has showed glimmers of the colossal defender he might become in the future during his brief career, despite the fact that under David Moyes he was limited to just 17 league appearances last season, nine of which were starts.
Arteta probably recognises these superior physical assets and thinks that by investing early in this adaptable star, he may be able to instill the fundamental principles of his philosophy in this project player.
He managed 20 appearances while retaining a 6.89 average rating throughout the 2021/22 season, which is undoubtedly the pinnacle of his Premier League career to date. This was a number that was significantly helped by his defensive prowess, for which he averaged 1.1 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, and 2.5 clearances per game, according to Sofascore.
The Spanish coach would work to increase this, but it was supported by a dismal 71% pass accuracy.
Johnson stands out when compared to Arsenal’s bulky center-back William Saliba, demonstrating how much stronger physically superior to most of his colleagues Johnson is.
When comparing their defensive statistics, which include tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances and aerials won per 90, West Ham’s defensive prodigy performs better than the towering Frenchman in all but one of the metrics. The Englishman appears to be much more physically imposing than even Arsenal’s second-best defence from the previous season, according to this mastery.
William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates after the game
It is not surprising that ex-professional footballer Anton Ferdinand has referred to him as “immense” in the past when praising the club’s depth.
By working on a personal passion project to transform these varied physical assets into a technically adept star for his system, Arteta might now contribute to his treasury of talent.
