Despite admittedly maintaining a fairly decent reputation within the Spanish La Liga during his spell amidst the top-flight European game, Celta de Vigo’s ‘Nolito’ isn’t exactly a household name among the Premier League.
However, after scoring seven goals in nine league matches this season – as well as amounting an admirable total of three assists for his teammates – perhaps this 29-year-old Spanish striker really should be.
The former Ecija, Benfica and Granada man has subsequently drawn a whole host of recent transfer speculation in the run up to the January transfer window. Although another of the front-man’s former clubs – a certain FC Barcelona – have reportedly raised an interest in the current Celta de Vigo star of late, Arsenal are also supposedly in the race to land La Liga’s latest hotshot midway through the 2015/16 campaign.
So then, will fans of the Premier League eventually witness the briefly capped Spanish international among the English game in the not too distant future, or is the possibility of Arsenal signing Nolito actually somewhat of a non-starter?
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Well, even though both Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have given their manager something to think about throughout the course of the current season, Nolito could well represent the ideal striker to be playing at the Emirates this term. It may seem like a bit of a panic move from the Gunners’ perspective – but this is a man who truly knows how to find the back of the net in some style.
When it comes to challenging opponents aggressively inside the final third, using a mix of physicality and technical ability to source himself chances in and around the penalty box, as well as simply proving deadly time and time again when offered the chance to score in one-on-one situations, the 2015/16 campaign has so far been a very profitable one for Nolito.
The Spaniard has displayed sheer confidence in front of goal this term, and the results have been equally captivating for the striker. Nolito can also pick up possession of the ball deep within the opponent’s half when required, in addition to linking-up smoothly with his attacking colleagues in truly competent fashion.
Celta de Vigo currently sit fourth in La Liga behind only the formidable likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Along with the efforts of former Liverpool outcast, Iago Aspas, Nolito has been one of the main instigators behind his team’s success this year – proving that an ability to score goals seemingly on demand will always help a club’s fortunes out on the pitch one way or another.
Yet even though Nolito certainly seems like a promising striker at this current moment in time, it ultimately still remains difficult to picture him turning out at the Emirates as early as the January transfer window. Putting aside Barcelona’s reported interest in the centre-forward, would Arsene Wenger really see fit to splash out a fair amount of his club’s resources on a 29-year-old striker this term?
The answer could well be, no. For all the Celta de Vigo man’s talents in front of goal in recent seasons, the Gunners arguably represent the most stubborn club currently operating among the English top-flight. Arsenal failed to sign a single outfield player across the summer transfer window, and the North Londoners already seem to be scoring a decent amount of goals this term thanks to the attacking talent already at Wenger’s disposal. So why would the club alter their approach now?
The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, with the mercurial Mesut Ozil operating just behind, already cover most of the talents a player of Nolito’s overall worth would likely introduce in front of the Emirates faithful. Arsenal should arguably only look to sign either a genuine world class striker in the same age bracket as the 29-year-old Spanish front-man, or go on to develop a much younger asset with potential to become even bigger in the future.
Therefore, whilst Nolito has certainly done himself proud so far this season, Arsene Wenger ultimately doesn’t need him at this stage in the proceedings.
Perhaps if the Gunners hadn’t splashed out £16million on a below-par Danny Welbeck two summers ago, the chance to sign an emerging talent like Nolito would in-fact seem worthwhile – but as that simply isn’t the case for the club right now – Arsenal have no choice but to lie in their somewhat precarious bed now that it has already been made…
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