10 goals, 5 assists in 13 games – Arsenal’s attack would become world-class if they land this Moroccan star in January

Why Hakim Ziyech would be an excellent buy for Arsenal in January

Hakim Ziyech is currently one of the hottest properties in the Dutch Eredivisie. After a disappointing World Cup with Morocco, Ziyech has hit the ground running at Ajax in the Dutch top-flight this season.

The 25-year-old has been instrumental in Ajax’s progress to the last-16 of the Champions League and has played a key role on the domestic front as well, keeping his team within striking distance of leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie.

A product of the Heerenveen youth system, Ziyech made his move to FC Twente in 2014 and rose to prominence with his impressive performances in the 2015/16 season where he registered 17 goals and 10 assists from 33 appearances.

His heroics in the 2015-16 season earned him a coveted move to Ajax in the summer of 2016 and he hasn’t looked back since then, making a name for himself as one of the rising young playmakers across Europe. Ziyech has accumulated a whopping 10 goals and 5 assists from just 13 appearances in the Eredivisie this season.

The 24-year-old averages 6 shots, 4 key passes, 2.5 dribbles, 2.8 crosses and 3.6 successful long balls per game in the Eredivisie this season. Quite clearly, these figures are incredible and a player of his calibre deserves to compete with the very best in arguably the most competitive league in the world, the Premier League.

To put things into perspective, Arsenal should make a move for this immensely talented creative ace in January to cover for the departure of Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck.

The Gunners currently sit 5th in the Premier League standings with 34 points from 17 games, 3 points behind 4th placed Chelsea. Unai Emery’s men were flying high with an unbeaten run of 22 games across all competitions but back-to-back defeats at the hands of Southampton and Spurs have brought the fans crashing down to the earth.

Arsenal are in dire need of a creative playmaker who can play in a No. 10 role behind the striker. Mesut Ozil has fallen out of favour after a series of lacklustre displays while Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been too inconsistent to rely upon.

And that is exactly why Ziyech would be an ideal buy for the Gunners in January. A sharp, quick, agile and fleet-footed attacking midfielder, the Moroccan is known for his incredible vision, silky dribbling and exquisite passing.

A technically-gifted creative ace, Ziyech has excellent close control and can create space for himself with sharp turns and an intricate first touch.

Known for his tactical awareness on and off the ball,  the 25-year-old has the ability to play his teammates in behind the back line with defence-splitting passes. Blessed with a sweet left foot, Ziyech is not only capable of operating as an inverted winger down the right but is also adept at scoring spectacular goals from outside the box.

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While the central defence is a top priority for Arsenal in January, the Gunners should also look to bolster their attack to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.

That said, Arsenal should start keeping tabs on the Moroccan and make an audacious swoop in January to secure his services.