Why Arsenal should make a move for Cengiz Under
As per Italian Outlet Leggo (h/t The Express), Arsenal have been tracking AS Roma winger Cengiz Under for quite some time ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks of Bucaspor and Altinordu’s youth system and made a breakthrough in the 2014/15 season. He moved to Istanbul Basaksehir in the summer of 2016 and enjoyed a productive season in the Turkish capital.
A year later, Roma signed him and he has gone on to become a regular member of the squad. He played a significant role in the club’s run to the 2017/18 Champions League semi-finals and gained attention across Europe. He is considered to be one of the best young wingers in Europe. Thus, Arsenal should make a move for him this summer.
The Gunners have struggled throughout the campaign and are currently 9th in the league table. They have been dumped out of the Europa League and the EFL Cup, and their season has not gone as expected. However, the arrival of Mikel Arteta has brought some changes to the performances of late.
They have gone unbeaten in the league since the turn of the New Year. Club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been the only source of hope for the Gunners. He has led the line brilliantly with 17 goals in the league so far. But he hasn’t received enough support from the other forwards.
Arsenal’s defence has been one of the major reasons for their downfall in the season. The backline has been shaky ever since Laurent Koscielny left. David Luiz, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi have failed to live up to the expectations due to a lack of consistency.
Under could be a crucial player in Arsenal’s attack
While it is clear that Arteta needs to bring in changes to the backline, a forward is also necessary to add depth to the squad. Reiss Nelson and Nicolas Pepe are the only two natural wingers available in the squad.
Pepe has not enjoyed a good debut campaign at the Emirates. He was left on the bench for the majority of the 2019/20 season. However, he has started to show promising signs on the right wing in recent times and Nelson has not been a regular in the first-team. Thus, bringing in a winger would do them good.
In that regard, signing Under would be an excellent option for the club. In his debut season in Italy, he scored 7 league goals and followed it with 3 goals and 7 assists in the next campaign. He has been an influential member of the squad but he has struggled with injuries this season.
The Turkish international has the ability to succeed at a higher level and could add depth to Arsenal’s squad. And if he is able to carry on with the fine form, he would be a valuable option and the manager would have many options to choose from if Under joins them.
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Verdict
Given the lack of quality on the flanks, Arsenal are in dire need of wingers to bolster their attack. And Under’s inclusion would bring healthy competition within the squad. He could also represent them in the long run by learning under the guidance of Arteta. Thus, they should make a move for the 22-year-old this summer.