Ragdolled by Guirassy for most of the match, emphasised by the big striker's second goal of the evening when he burst through paper-thin resistance. 2placeholder image
Ragdolled by Guirassy for most of the match, emphasised by the big striker's second goal of the evening when he burst through paper-thin resistance. 2 | AP
Arsenal have been linked with a move for another striker to cover Viktor Gyokeres but are they looking at the wrong player?
With six goals in 14 games, he is starting to find his feet, but it is his physicality and aggression that has caused problems for opposition defences. Centre-halves now have to keep an eye on a ‘proper’ no.9 which has seen players like Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard benefit in recent weeks.
Arsenal should swerve £44m Serhou Guirassy deal
Arsenal have been linked with Serhou Guirassy at Borussia Dortmund with the 29-year old’s £44m release clause leaving the Gunners’ recruitment team to ‘seriously consider’ triggering it in January. The 6ft 2inch tall Ghana international has been in fine form with 11 goals and four assists in 21 appearances this season and could be primed for one last big move.
Whilst tempting to sign a proven goalscorer with a similar profile, Arsenal could save a lot of money by targeting a completely different striker, but one with the sort of energy and pace that could provide an alternative option to Gyokeres whilst also keeping Premier League defences honest.
After seeing several moves blocked by the Celtic board, Japan international Daizen Maeda has cut a frustrated figure this season after scoring 33 times and providing 12 assists last season in 51 games for the Scottish champions.
The most impressive statistic is Maeda’s four goals and one assist in nine Champions League games showing that he is more than capable of competing against elite defences. There is one quality in particular that allows him to do this.
He is fast, very fast. How the Japan international is still playing in Scotland is a mystery. He is also one of the best pressers in European football, the 28-year old is as hard working and aggressive in the 90th minute as he is the 1st and defenders never get a minute’s rest when he is playing either through the middle or on the wing.
How much would it cost to sign Maeda?
Maeda is reported to have handed in a transfer request in the summer and he won’t be hanging around the east end of Glasgow for much longer. After such a devastating season playing mainly through the middle last season, he has expressed his frustration recently on international duty, via The Herald, about having to play in a different role: "Right now with Celtic, I'm playing in a position that's not my natural position on the team, on the right wing.
"But I am not in bad shape and I managed to score in our last game. I felt it was really important for me to be in this camp because I missed the last one and the next one isn't until March and we have a World Cup coming up. Personally, I honestly feel like it's going to be tough for me to make the starting line-up. But I am happy to try and make an impact as a substitute if need be. I've been discussing my role with the coach Hajime Moriyasu and I am ready to play if I am called upon."
Maeda’s transfer value could be as low as £10m with Celtic’s sale of Kyogo Furuhashi last season being an indicator of what the might accept for a player who is capable of causing carnage in the right team. He might not be 6ft tall and built like a middle-weight boxer, but there isn’t a centre-half who in Europe who looks forward to playing the lightning fast forward.
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