Why this 5-goal Premier League attacker (Not Mkhitaryan) could become an unlikely hero at Arsenal

Richarlison vs Alexis Sanchez – Should Arsenal Go For The Watford Attacker?

Arsenal are reportedly interested in a move for Watford attacker Richarlison, who has earned rave reviews for his performances this season. The young Brazilian has truly made an impact for the Hornets which did link him with quite a lot of suitors this January. The Gunners are understood to be eyeing a move for him and it could prove to be a good decision since they are close to losing key player Alexis Sanchez.

Richarlison has mostly occupied the left-wing role for Watford this season and that is exactly the area Arsenal need to strengthen following Sanchez’s departure. Considering Richarlison’s performances, he seems to have a raw sense of talent that can be moulded into greatness as time goes on and he could thrive at Arsenal. He may lack experience but he more than makes up for it with his spectacular attacking strength. However, is he good enough to fill the void left behind by Sanchez?

Let’s compare their stats and take a closer look.

Alexis Sanchez vs Richarlison

In 20 appearances across competitions for Arsenal this season, Sanchez has scored 8 goals and 3 assists. He has picked up 4 yellow cards in the process and averages 3.6 shots per game while having a pass success-rate of 72.9%. He wins about 0.8 aerial battles per game and he has managed to win 3 Man Of The Match awards so far this term. The player also makes an average of 2.7 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per match.

Meanwhile, Richarlison has made 23 appearances for Watford in the Premier League this season. He has scored 5 goals and 4 assists while picking up 3 yellow cards in the process. He averages 3.1 shots per game and has a modest pass success-rate of 65.6%. Winning about 2.9 aerial duels per game, Richarlison has also managed to receive the Man Of The Match award on 4 occasions this term. Besides that, he makes an average of 1 key pass and 1.3 dribbles a game.

Verdict

At just 20 years of age, Richarlison is close to replicating Sanchez’s numbers and that in itself is quite an achievement. He is definitely strong enough to fill the Chilean’s void and could prove to be an exciting prospect for the Gunners. Also, Arsenal have not been in the best of shape lately and the injection of a fresh talent like Richarlison could work wonders for them. The remaining few months of this season will be a crucial do-or-die period for Wenger and to sign the Watford sensation could prove to be a step in the right direction.