Arsenal opinion: Should Arsenal sign Allan Saint-Maximin?

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi’s recent rise may have Arsenal fans believing that they may not need another winger, but they are wrong. The Gunners need reinforcements to strengthen their team for a top-four push next season, and adding back-up or competition on the flanks is a must.

While they did target the likes of Ivan Perisic (Guardian) and Yannick Carrasco (Sky Sports), the deals fell through because of Arsenal’s lack of funds (Sky Sports) in the winter window.

However, one player who should be on Arsenal’s shortlist is OGC Nice star Allan Saint-Maximin. Just 21 years old, the Nice star has been amongst the club’s best players this season by a large margin, producing nine goals so far.

Moreover, his abilities both on and off the ball have been crucial to manager Patrick Vieira’s tactics this season.

An unpredictable winger with a rather incredible pace and agility, Saint-Maximin uses it well to terrorise defences in the Ligue 1. That’s something Arsenal have missed desperately and while signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has added a touch of that, the Gabon international is a striker by nature.

Saint-Maximin, on the other hand, does it on the wing and does it with a style and class that few players can. Add that to his wide range of tricks and flicks, and enthusiastic style of defending, it does make him a value for money signing.

While his ability in the final third is good, Saint-Maximin is far from the finished product but at 21, he has a long long way to go. Unai Emery does have a good history with young players at Sevilla and PSG.

Even at Arsenal, the 48-year-old has helped the likes of Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin, Matteo Guendouzi and a few others.

What may be a roadblock, however, is the fact that at a higher level of football for Monaco, Saint-Maximin did struggle to make an impact. But that was four years ago and he was consistently shipped out on loan by the club.

The 21-year-old did play two games, but both were off the bench, with Nice eventually opting to end his suffering.

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However, Arsenal will have to act very fast with AC Milan (Football Italia) in the race for pacy wingers. But if Arsenal convince the youngster that his future lies at the Emirates, it would be a good deal in the end.