How often can we construct a strong opinion about a player without barely seeing them? Perhaps YouTube compilations or viral clips on social media have become the grassroots from which broad and decisive views on players now stem.
Arsenal have been linked with hundreds of players through the years from all around the world, and it is startling how quickly minds can be made up for or against a player despite little-to-no prior knowledge of them is held. I know I have been guilty of it, and certainly, initially, with Arsenal’s latest link, Alex Grimaldo.
The Spanish and Benfica left-back is a player reportedly available for as little as €7m (£5.9m) after the price tag for primary target Lisandro Martinez grew well beyond a reasonable valuation of the Argentine. Grimaldo is comparatively far cheaper with just a year left on his deal.
