Edinson Cavani is a Uruguayan striker who is currently residing in the capital of France, with Paris Saint-Germain, where he’s been for the past 2 seasons. Before that, the 28-year-old was plying his trade at Napoli, where he netted a staggering 104 goals in 134 appearances. He’s recently come off a domestic quadruple with Les Parisiens, which included a second league title in two seasons. However, the club’s overall dream of winning the Champions League with Qatari investment hasn’t been made a reality by the signing of Cavani, only getting as far as the quarter-finals in both campaigns where the man from Salto has been present at the Parc de Princes.
The Uruguayan international is one of the most complete strikers in the world, which has been defined at PSG, a club where he has been played in varied roles under different coaches, in bids to keep the team in flow. His time out on the right wing to facilitate Zlatan Ibrahimović as the focal point, as well as the rise of attacking players like Lucas and others have meant that he’s developed traits in all departments as an attacker. For example, his hold-up play has been refined and improved upon to an great standard in the past 24 months, and as a result his passing is strong, averaging over 22 passes a game and over 81% pass success rate (WhoScored) in the past campaign. As well as this, he offers a dominating physical presence (his aerial ability being a stand-out), and quite obviously a clinical threat, notching 34 goals in 49 appearances. His ability also isn’t only restricted to one competition – he’s scored in the Champions League, Ligue 1 and French domestic cups, these attributes portray a great striker who offers many dimensions to his game.
Arsenal must sign him, firstly because of how a signing like that would reflect how the league is perhaps changing in its strikers. Players like Harry Kane, Olivier Giroud, Diego Costa and Christian Benteke are famed for the sheer power that they bring to their game, and how that very power has helped their teams massively, the aforementioned players all having prolific 2014/15 campaigns. Cavani matches this mould, and it’s important that Arsenal capitalise on this resurgence of the “true” number 9, a role which appears to be one of the major catalysts in English football for success.
Cavani would bring almost everything Arsenal need in a striker at the moment. Looking back at his great hold-up play, that becomes essential in an Arsenal side that thrives off possession play, essential to their way of winning. Cavani offers this well and therefore can supply attacking talents like Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sánchez as well as claiming goals for himself.
If you look at the past few sides that have won the Premier League, all of them have had a clinical striker that has powered them to England’s biggest trophy. Costa, Agüero, van Persie – all strikers who have notched 20+ goals plus in their respective campaigns. With all respect to Olivier Giroud, who is becoming a core piece in the Gunners jigsaw, he experienced droughts last season, which hurt the team significantly. Cavani is an incredible finisher, and with creative players like Santi Cazorla and Mesut Özil behind him, can be trusted upon to constantly deliver goals. He also poses a great threat on the counter-attack. Looking back at Arsenal in the past season, a welcome addition to the club’s tactics has been catching out the opposition on the counter-attack, particularly in big games (beating Manchester City at the Etihad springs to mind). It’s appears an instruction that Arsenal can definitely develop on to great effect – Cavani would be a likely character to help that. As well as this, when surrounded by quick, explosive talents like Alexis Sánchez and Theo Walcott, it’s important to have a striker that can help to match this in some form.
At times, Olivier Giroud has been caught out with his pace, and whilst Cavani isn’t rapid quick, he possesses the agility to aid his fellow attackers. A nice factor is also his strength – the Premier League is physical, and Arsenal need a strong player like that to claim the spoils – and when coupled with promising agility, it offers a complete striker. Finally, he offers a world-class persona that the Emirates faithful have clamoured for, and would be the driving force towards a first title win in over a decade.
But would Arsenal even be able to attract such a talent, given the quality and what he’s contributed to PSG? Firstly, with the big names already attracted in the past few seasons – Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Petr Cech – as well as the level of progress in the past 2 seasons, and the size of the club, it’s difficult to put it past many names in world football to be persuaded to join Arsenal. Cavani would most likely be in favour of a more centralised role under Wenger, becoming the focal point of the attack, rather than being shunted out in favour of Zlatan Ibrahimović. This would definitely maximise his goal return, and boost the Gunners at the same time. It’s certainly a plausible transfer.
Cavani offers a scarily great amount in nearly every department that a frontman has to offer. Agility, power, hold-up play and clinical finishing all being superb attributes to his game. With strikers like Mario Mandzukic, Carlos Tevez and Jackson Martinez already snatched up, it’s imperative the clubs signs a striker than can drive Arsenal to the league title. Edinson Cavani fits that description and is a player I’d urge Arsène Wenger to pursue this summer.
