The World Cup continues to provide moments of drama and intrigue and a day that provided more shocks will have caught the eye of most. Arsenal recruiters too will have been watching with intent and watching their potential targets.
Spain forward Ferran Torres was at the double whilst a contrasting performance from Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri perhaps gave Arsenal vindication in their stylistic choice of striker.
football.london will be covering the performances of Arsenal’s potential transfer targets across the tournament. Ensure to return after each matchday for comments on the performances of the players the Gunners have been linked to throughout the tournament.
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Borna Sosa
Borna Sosa was linked with the Gunners prior to the move for Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian has been an inverted presence in the Arsenal side and Sosa presents far more as a traditional attacking full-back in the ilk of Kieran Tierney.
He was a threat for Croatia, particularly in the first half. He created arguably Croatia’s best chance as he put in a low ball to Nikola Vlasic whose shot was well saved by Bounou. He produced a good block from an Achraf Hakimi shot too, who looked like a big threat that Sosa did well to try and keep quiet.
That said, a move for a left-back seems unlikely for Arsenal. Although, with Tierney’s future less sure with Zinchenko’s presence, perhaps the Croatian is one the Gunners might keep tabs on.
Youssef El-Nesyri
Linked with a move to Arsenal prior to the January window in 2021, Youssef En-Nesyri was a quiet figure in the Morocco forward line. His best chance of the game came from a cross from the right and the Sevilla striker was unable to stretch to reach the ball and it went agonisingly out of play.
The game highlighted perhaps how that ‘Plan B’ style forward isn’t what the Gunners are after. Gabriel Jesus has shown that, despite a recent lack of goals, his collaborative nature is far more beneficial than for a target man to be a presence in the opposition box and not much else.
Ferran Torres
If there were performances that could help convince the Arsenal fan base that a player could be a difference-maker for the club in a title-chasing season it was this. A double goalscorer, the tenacity of Ferran Torres was on display for Spain.
Before being replaced to great applause by Alvaro Morata, the forward who wasn’t expected to start has perhaps given Luis Enrique a reason to indeed continue him through the middle. A simple penalty finish with a show of strength and desire for his second, Torres’ versatility is what might attract Arsenal to a move in January but convincing Barcelona to sell will be the challenge.
Youri Tielemans
Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for some time now as the Belgian is set to become a free agent in the summer. However, if decisions are set to be made off of the one match he played against Canada, it won't have left a good impression.
The 25-year-old struggled under the press from his opposition and in a tough display, he was brought off at half-time as Roberto Martinez rung the changes.
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