Arsene Wenger may be set to offset the loss of Theo Walcott by signing Juventus attacker Sebastian Giovinco, after it was revealed that the Gunners had made contact with the player’s agent.
The diminutive playmaker has spent his entire career at the ‘Old Lady’, bar a couple of loan moves, having come through the youth ranks in Turin.
Able to play across the forward line, he is known for his dribbling skills and delicate link-up play. With an electric turn of pace and great balance, Giovinco also has an eye for the spectacular.
Still only 26-years-old, the Italian has been primarily used as an impact sub this season, and could benefit from a move away to enhance his credentials in light of the impending World Cup this summer.
Noted Italian football journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that contact has been made between the two parties, and the consensus is that Arsenal are desperate to find a replacement for the injured Walcott.
Contatti tra l’#Arsenal e l’agente di #Giovinco, dopo l’infortunio di #Walcott. #calciomercato
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@dimarzio) January 9, 2014
Wenger admitted this week that he may have to dip into the January window after losing his England winger,
“[Walcott’s injury] has accelerated speculation first and of course my desire as well,” Wenger told the club’s official website.
“Up front we lose Theo as a potential central forward and that’s maybe where we have to look outside, but we hopefully have [Nicklas] Bendtner back in three weeks. We are there for the opportunities but it’s very difficult at the moment.”
Theo Walcott is one of the fastest, most direct wingers around, and he will be hard to replace. But Arsenal have not primarily relied upon out-and-out wingers this season, with the likes of Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey the key operators in Arsene Wenger’s table-topping side.
Giovinco is able to play out wide, but could be utilised alongside Santi Cazorla or Mesut Ozil just behind the striker in a formation Arsenal have used to great effect this season.
The Italian, nicknamed ‘Atom Ant’ due to his size and agility, has not been the most consistent of late, but Wenger may relish the prospect of working with a player so attuned to the style of football being played at the club.
The Metro have claimed a short term loan deal for Giovinco is in the pipeline, and with the player currently stuck on the bench at Juve, and Arsenal’s need for a vibrant attacker to fill a troubling void, this could be an excellent deal for the Gunners if it materialises.
What do you think? Would Giovinco be a good signing? Let me know in the comments below…
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