By adding another high-profile acquisition to their summer expenditure, Arsenal may be poised to replicate the success of an archrival.
Arsenal has acquired whom?
A probable move for Goncalo Inacio, despite not having been mentioned since late June, nonetheless represents a potentially excellent piece of business for Mikel Arteta to add to his constantly expanding playing staff.
This imposing defensive behemoth might be the last piece needed for them to properly pose a threat to the treble-winning Manchester City after Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, and Kai Havertz improved a team that just missed winning the Premier League the previous season.
Although his €60 million (£51 million) price tag may sound exorbitant, the Arsenal have already demonstrated their penchant to make significant purchases this season.
They may actually imitate Manchester United’s success in luring Bruno Fernandes from Lisbon to England by swooping from Sporting CP, which would serve as further motivation to execute this transfer.
The calibre of Goncalo Inacio.
When the Red Devils paid £47 million for a player from the Portuguese division after moving to Old Trafford in January 2020, many people expressed surprise.
The 28-year-old quickly disproved the naysayers, though, as he contributed to 15 goals in his first 14 league appearances. Following that, he would score 28 goals and add 17 assists across all competitions in his first full season, thus silencing his detractors.
Arteta will be salivating at the idea if Inacio turns out to be even half as influential at the Emirates as his countryman has been since relocating to England.
Especially in light of the great acclaim that the 21-year-old defender is already receiving for his confident possession style, which personifies the modern center-back.
Raj Chohan, a BBC Sport commentator and member of the Premier League Panel, tried to highlight the qualities that have made him such a valuable member of his boyhood club. He noted:
The ideal counterbalance to Konaté is Gonzalo Inacio. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: build-up conductor, leader/aerial dominator/switches of play, incredible recovery speed & coverage of space.
His underlying statistics clearly show how at ease he is in possession, as he stands out among centre backs in Europe despite his young.
He is in the top 1% for both passes attempted per 90 and passes made in progression per 90. Then, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% and 4% for progressive carries per 90 and successful take-ons per 90, respectively.
Few players in his position demonstrate such a unique ability to advance the play from defence on the continent, something Arteta will be eager to add to his already fluid group.
The Spanish coach, who was still a player at the time, described his ideal club back in 2014:
“I’ll be clear about my philosophy. Football should be exciting and expressive. I can’t think of football in a way where the opponent is central to everything.
“We have to control the action, we have to be the ones taking the initiative, and we have to keep the spectators interested. Those are things I firmly believe in, and I believe I am capable of completing.
It appears that he has finally achieved his goal, and in this 6 foot 1 Portuguese titan, he may be able to further cement his ideas. The only way for him to succeed will be to emulate Fernandes, who has followed a similar route as Inacio might soon do.
