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Sky Sports pundit says £40m star reportedly wanted by Arsenal is not ‘the answer’
Arsenal and Celtic legend Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports that he doesn’t feel Odsonne Edouard is “the answer” for the Gunners as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to , the Gunners are interested in the 22-year-old Hoops sharpshooter, who has claimed an impressive 60 goals and 31 assists in 126 Hoops appearances.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reportedly plans to bolster his ranks this summer amid an uncertain future for the club’s main frontmen, in particular Aubameyang, whose contract expires in 2021.
Edouard has played for Celtic since the summer of 2017, when he initially joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, and joined the Bhoys permanently the following year for a club record £9million ().
This season alone, Edouard has registered 27 goals and 19 assists, helping Celtic move a massive 13 points clear ahead of closest rivals Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership table before the campaign was suspended.
However, Nicholas feels that Edouard’s style of play is more like that of Alexandre Lacazette rather than that of Aubameyang.
“There’s been a lot of talk of Aubameyang being sold, but Edouard would not be the answer,” he told Sky Sports. “He plays differently, more like Lacazette. Aubameyang is about pace and movement. Although he likes to play the No 9 role, he does not play it as well as Edouard could. Similarly, Edouard could not play in the position that Aubameyang does, out wide on the left.
“He wants to be the key figurehead of the team as the link man through the middle. For that reason, I do not see Arsenal targeting him as a replacement for Aubameyang. Arsenal are in a horrible position when it comes to sorting out Aubameyang’s contract offer. Barcelona and Real Madrid have been mentioned and they have the funds to buy him.
“Edouard is too similar to Lacazette, and if he was to move, it paints a different picture. Edouard would then fit into the Arsenal team as the No 9. You would still need to give him time as he’s not been playing every week against Premier League quality.”
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Nicholas makes some good points – while Edouard is undoubtedly a superb player, his style of play is more similar than that of Lacazette than Aubameyang, so the worry is whether Arsenal really need two classic number 9s whilst being left without a more rounded, versatile speedster.
The Arsenal and Celtic legend is also unsure whether Edouard would thrive in a team that doesn’t dominate possession – but Arteta favours possession football so that may not necessarily be an issue going forward – and the fact he may need some time to adapt to playing against Premier League quality teams.
Not massive issues in the grand scheme of things, mind, and given Edouard’s quality and young age combined with his relatively inexpensive price tag – Nicholas claims Celtic are gauging him as a £40million player – there is plenty for Arteta to work with.