Arsenal should consider Ismaily an option to solve their left-back woes
Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to 18 games across all competitions as the Gunners romped home with a 4-2 victory over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
After back-to-back losses against Manchester City and Chelsea in their first two games, Arsenal have established themselves as an invincible outfit in the English top-flight under their new manager Unai Emery.
There has been a marked change in the overall body language of the team under Emery and Arsenal have made a strong statement of intent with their stellar run.
The manager’s high-pressing attacking football has not only been a treat to watch but has also brought the best out of several players in the team. Arsenal have scored 32 goals so far in the Premier League, which shows that they have reaped the rewards of Emery’s free-flowing attacking football.
As much as Arsenal have prospered in the final third this season, the Gunners have looked susceptible at the back on numerous occasions. In fact, they have conceded 18 goals from 14 games, which is 12 more than what Manchester City have shipped so far.
Much of their woes this season has been down to their left-back conundrum. Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac have been in and out of the team due to recurrent injuries while Ainsley Maitland-Niles was on the sidelines for three months following a minor leg fracture on opening day.
Consequently, Emery was forced to field Granit Xhaka in an unfamiliar left-back role against Crystal Palace which led to disastrous results.
Suffice to say, Arsenal need a long-term solution to their left-back woes as Monreal is already 32 and is likely to call it a day in the Premier League sooner or later.
And that is exactly the reason why the Gunners should make a move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian left-back, Ismaily who has been in tremendous form in the UEFA Champions League this term.
The 28-year-old has accumulated 14 goals and 27 assists from 153 appearances for Shakhtar across all competitions, which shows that he is a hugely experienced player with a lot of quality.
Ismaily has 2 goals and 2 assists to his name in the Champions League this season and starred in Shakhtar’s latest 3-2 win over Hoffenheim on Matchday 5. The Brazilian has averaged 2.4 shots, 1 dribble, 2.4 tackles and 2.6 clearances in the Champions League, figures which speak volumes of his all-around ability as a full-back.
The 28-year-old Brazilian is a technically-gifted modern-day flying full-back who contributes a lot to the attack with his powerful overlapping runs down the left. A fleet-footed player, Ismaily loves to take on the defenders with his pace and dribbling and has the ability to create openings in the final third with his excellent link-up play.
The Brazilian has averaged 45.6 passes per game with an accuracy percentage of 85.5, which shows that his passing is as good as any midfielder. Furthermore, he has a powerful left-foot that is capable of finding the net with pile-drivers and volleys from range.
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Blessed with immense attacking prowess, Ismaily is also solid at the back and makes good recovery runs to track back and close down the opposition. He is also known for his positioning and tackling as a left-back.
That said, Arsenal must pursue an interest in him as he would not only add a lot of stability to their backline but would also add an extra dimension to their attack.
