Thursday, March 28, 2024

Stats say Arsenal should forget about Sagna and sign this replacement

With Bacary Sagna set to leave this summer, Arsenal appear to have earmarked Serge Aurier as his replacement. The 21-year-old Toulouse defender is a boyhood Arsenal fan and like Sagna, is equally able to play in the centre of defence.

Aurier has played much of this domestic season in the centre of defence despite his short frame and the Frenchman seems every bit a Sagna replacement, but with perhaps a more energetic presence than the ageing Sagna. Using Squawka.com we compared him to Sagna and also one of the best right backs in the league in Ivanovic, here’s how he measured up.

AurierComparison

 

Aurier’s goals and stats see him well ahead of the other two, showing perhaps he would be more of an attacking threat than Sagna down the right. He is not quite as strong as Sagna in the air, but winning 62% of his duels shows that he is still a fairly commanding aerial presence. With 57 interceptions and 70 tackles, Aurier is well ahead of both Sagna and Ivanovic, still illustrates his defensive qualities too.

Arsenal would have no trouble in convincing him to join the club, Aurier told the Daily Mail: “You cannot turn down Arsenal,”

“PSG and Monaco are building – but it is the English league that makes me dream.

“It is a bit crazy, where smaller clubs can beat the big ones.

“Everyone wants to play there because of the amazing atmosphere inside stadiums. Discovering this kind of league interests me in terms of sensations and emotions.”

Whilst Arsene Wenger is obviously desperate to keep hold of the experienced Sagna, Aurier looks like he may well be an improvement on the reliable right-back. Although Sagna is consistent, Aurier is a younger option and someone who looks like he could provide long term quality to the club. Even if Sagna stays it would be worth considering signing Aurier as fourth choice centre back cover and also to rotate with Sagna at right back, with Jenkinson going on loan.

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Picture via Serge Aurier Instragram

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