Should Arsenal add Moussa Diaby in attack?
The latest Know Your Links explores the French winger
Here comes summer! And that means links.
Among the many things reportedly on Mikel Arteta’s shopping list: A wide attacker, and reputable names have said Bayer Leverkusen right winger, French international and full-fledged speedster Moussa Diaby is among the names Arteta would most like to add.
Diaby is from Paris and was in the PSG academy before making his debut for his childhood club in 2018-2019, a pretty solid campaign where he amassed 8 goal involvements in 25 league appearances (10 starts). Diaby also made a brief appearance in the Champions League that season.
Leverkusen snapped up the young attacker for €15m the following summer, and he’s been a mainstay ever since, with 67 goal contributions in 108 league starts for the Werkself. He scored twice in this season’s Champions League group stage, both against Atletico Madrid.
Diaby has of course been on my radar (pun half-intended) for some time, ranking 10th in my most recent winger post.
Using numbers to find wing options for Arsenal
Arsenal are in for a long and challenging run-in after this winter World Cup, and adding an additional wide attacker capable of covering for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli may prove to be crucial. It’s been exciting as an Arsenal fan to see Reiss Nelson play well against the likes of Brighton and Nottingham Forest, and Emile Smith Rowe has himself said he hopes to be available for Arsenal’s return to action on Boxing Day against West Ham. But Mikel Arteta seems unconvinced those two, and Marquinhos, would be enough to cover potential injuries, cup football and a potential deep Europa League run, all while pushing Manchester City for the league title for as long as possible.
But with Leverkusen just clinging on to a Europa Conference League spot in league play, and their Champions League hopes dashed via the league (although still possible by winning the Europa League), this could be as good a summer as any for Diaby to move. He’s a 2025 contract, meaning Leverkusen could extract the best value for their star player this upcoming window.
But is Arsenal the right club for him? Is he a Bundesliga merchant? Let’s go through some stats and video to figure it out.
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