BREAKING NEWS: Coming live from emirates, ” I have taken my time to watch him he’s what we need his potential will do us a lot of good”. Arsenal is setting its sights on an £85m versatile defender, dubbed the “Swiss-army knife,” who could spell the end for Zinchenko. This young Ajax sensation, is making waves with his ability to excel both as a center-back and left-back. His impressive stats in interceptions, blocks, and passing accuracy have caught Mikel Arteta’s attention. With such a hefty price tag, Arsenal’s investment in this emerging talent could redefine their defensive lineup and provide the stability they’ve been seeking. Arsenal eyeing £85m “Swiss-army knife” who could finally see the end of Zinchenko.

Arsenal is gearing up for a hectic summer transfer window, aiming to strengthen their squad despite another impressive Premier League campaign that saw them fall short of Manchester City.

The club’s primary focus seems to be on bolstering the striker position, with names like Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko being linked. However, Mikel Arteta might also need to address the left-back position. Oleksandr Zinchenko has been rumored to be on his way out of the Emirates, and while losing top players is challenging, the latest potential recruit could be an ideal replacement.

According to The Athletic, Arsenal remains interested in Ajax’s standout defender, Jorrel Hato. Although the teenager recently signed a new contract with Ajax, the Gunners are undeterred. Arsenal’s initial interest in Hato surfaced in January.

While the article doesn’t specify a potential transfer fee, journalist Suleyman Öztürk suggested on the Dutch site SoccerNews in November that Hato might command a price of around €100 million (£85 million). Despite the hefty fee, Hato could be worth the investment.

Comparing Hato and Zinchenko reveals several key points. Firstly, Hato is only 18 years old. Secondly, while his main position is center-back, he is versatile enough to play left-back, a role data analyst Ben Mattinson describes as a “Swiss army knife.” Despite Hato’s youth and positional flexibility, his underlying statistics already show him excelling in many areas compared to Zinchenko.

In metrics such as progressive passes, carries, and non-penalty expected goals and assists, Hato understandably ranks second to Zinchenko. However, in many other metrics, he outperforms the Arsenal left-back. Per 90 minutes this season, Hato has more interceptions, blocks, clearances, and ball recoveries, commits fewer errors leading to shots, wins more aerial duels, and boasts superior passing accuracy.

For example, Hato, whom Mattinson calls “elite,” shows higher numbers in defensive actions like interceptions, blocks, and clearances. He also commits fewer errors that lead to shots, wins more aerial duels, and has a better passing accuracy than Zinchenko. Although Hato might not be as offensive as Zinchenko, Arteta has shown a preference for a more defensively-minded left-back, as evidenced by his use of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior.

Ultimately, Hato could be the perfect replacement for Zinchenko, despite his young age and high transfer cost. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has even stated that Hato has a “huge future ahead.”