Not Malcom – Who’s this South American that Arsenal are trying to sign? Everything you need to know

Scout Report – Cristian Pavon

Arsenal are reportedly interested in a January move for Boca Juniors forward Cristian Pavon. The 21-year-old has been in fiery form for his club and it comes as no surprise that the Gunners are keen on signing him. The same report also states that Boca Juniors will agree to part ways with him only if his €35million buyout clause is met. It remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to shell out that amount but if they do, there is no doubt that the player could prove to be a valuable addition.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Alexis Sanchez’s future at the club, signing Pavon could be quite a coup. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the youngster’s profile.

History

Born in 1997 in Cordoba, Argentina, Pavon embarked on his youth career with Talleres de Cordoba. He was quite a gifted talent and he rapidly progressed through the ranks to establish himself as one of the best at the club. This resulted in the club offering him a professional contract at the age of 16. He spent a year with Cordoba but then joined Boca Juniors in 2014. They sent him out on loan to Colon but upon his return, Pavon gradually started making a name for himself with Boca Juniors.

As far as his international career goes, Pavon has represented Argentina at the U17 and U20 levels. He even represented the U23 side in 2016 Summer Olympics and eventually played for the senior team in the friendlies against Russia and Nigeria.

Playing Style

Adept at attempting long shots, Pavon’s key strength lies in his passing accuracy. He can find his teammates quite easily and that helps him maintain a sense of fluidity in the game. The youngster can hold on to the possession quite well and boasts of a penchant for dribbling. He seems to have an innate goalscoring instinct which can truly help him flourish in the future. He can play on both wings and has scored 3 goals so far this season. However, the player’s finishing skills need to be refined.

Pavon’s Future

He may not have scored too many goals this season but his displays have been quite convincing in terms of chance creation and the like. If Sanchez were to leave Arsenal, the Gunners will be in dire need of finding a replacement. The advantage of signing a player like Pavon is the fact that it can quite easily be a viable long-term option. Also, since he is quite young, he has that raw talent that can be moulded into something lethal. Hence, the move could work out in favour of all parties involved.