Tom Weber
Tom Weber
Updated: 30 Nov 2024 19:19 GMT
4 min read
Jamie Gittens
© IMAGO
Jamie Gittens is finally enjoying the breakout season many expected him to have years ago.
The Borussia Dortmund winger keeps impressing. Gittens continued his good run of form for BVB in Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich when he raced past Konrad Laimer and Kim Min-jae to put the ball beyond Manuel Neuer for the 1-0.
The 20-year-old thus took his tally for the season to eight goals in 19 appearances while he has also contributed with four assists. It is the kind of return Gittens should have already put up in previous seasons.
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But for different reasons, it hadn't quite clicked until this term. For one, the youngster has had some terrible luck with injuries that swiftly put a halt to any momentum he could have built up and also stunted his development.
When he arrived in Dortmund as a teenager, Gittens was billed as the heir to Jadon Sancho as he had also joined from Man City's academy like his predecessor. Unlike Gittens, however, Sancho established himself as an important squad member relatively quickly.
Jamie Gittens
© IMAGO - Jamie Gittens
Gittens' breakout season
It took Gittens a little longer than the Chelsea man to really become a fully-fledged senior player but he is now, perhaps belatedly, the difference-maker that Sancho had been.
The left-winger has scored in three consecutive games and it is unsurprising that in recent days reports have emerged asserting that a host of Premier League sides are starting to weigh up making a move for him.
English clubs have also been keeping tabs on Gittens as a potential homegrown option and Arsenal have been at the front of the queue for the London-born attacker for at least a year.
While the €100 million asking price Dortmund have set is excessive any way you look at it, Gittens is increasingly showing that he can be a player who can fetch a hefty fee and who could have an impact at the Premier League level.
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His directness is irresistible and while he is still a bit raw, that youthful exuberance and unpredictability are also virtues that could be useful to an Arsenal side that isn't blessed with a wealth of wide options.
Arsenal enjoyed a big win over West Ham on Saturday but there is no getting around the fact that Gabriel Martinelli - who started the game on the bench - has had a mixed bag of a campaign while Leandro Trossard also endured a few weeks where he struggled to impact matches.
Though Arsenal would prefer to add a player for the right wing as cover for Bukayo Saka, Gittens would be an ideal signing for the Gunners. According to data analytics firm SciSports, he has a 'Club Fit' rating of 72, which is a higher score than his other suitors like Chelsea and Liverpool get.
He won't come cheap, but Gittens is increasingly showing that he would be a shrewd investment.