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Aouar's current ability is overrated by Arsenal fans, but his potential is underrated. He isn't just a ball carrier. He's a both a midfielder and attacker. He blocks, screens, recovers and likes duels. He's a great leader as well. https://twitter.com/coelhaines/status/1314664058713526272
He switches play, combines and plays with patience which makes him a very complete midfielder.
There are 2 things which will take him to the next level:
1) His ball striking. He's nowhere near his genetic peak. He underhits throughballs and long passes. He can't generate as much power on shots (has a left peg) as someone that's physically peaked.
1) His ball striking. He's nowhere near his genetic peak. He underhits throughballs and long passes. He can't generate as much power on shots (has a left peg) as someone that's physically peaked.
You have to look at how players attack the goal to see scoring potential. He already has the shooting angles from the left. Just wait till his legs/core develop. Grealish wasn't scoring seriously 3 years ago. Look at his physical development. https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1232712680147910656?s=19
2) He doesn't win tackles cleanly, though he likes the duel. This won't be a problem long-term. Being physically stronger will vastly improve this and his tackling technique will improve. He gets stuck in, but doesn't injury himself.
We aren't used to types like Aouar being fullblown midfielders. He's maybe the most complete midfielder I've ever seen from the low centre of gravity ball carrier types. Like a more attacking Kanté.
Iniesta, Coutinho, Modrić, Kanté. I could make an easy case for Aouar being a bigger talent than all of them barring Kanté. Aouar overlaps very strongly with these players in skillset.
Aouar is one of those players who does everything very well but isn't élite at one thing. He's 22 now. Imagine when he's 25. He's certainly as big a talent as Havertz, Foden and Kulusevski. Just more midfieldery.
If you were looking at adding a pure attacker to the team, Aouar isn't for you currently. I would pick the above and Grealish in a heartbeat. If I wanted the total football option, I'd choose Aouar.
Aouar can play #10, he can play on both flanks and he can play in a pivot. I reckon he could also play false #9 as well. He's far more dynamic than a Dybala (not yet as dangerous). I genuinely think he could play as an emergency fullback. I've seen defenders less disciplined.
He's one of those oddballs like Scholes, Kanté, Pirlo. Paul Scholes was one of the best second strikers in football, making short runs into the box. And playing in a double pivot (as a controller) in European games. Fergie liked him because he 'tackled with aggression'.
Kanté played one of the best tactical roles I've ever seen last year in the Super Cup against Liverpool. On the ball, he played as a #10 ahead of Jorginho - Kovacic, receiving the ball with his back to play, combining and turning between the lines.
Off the ball, he played at the base of a 4-3-3 destroying while Kovacic and Jorginho played besides him. I've also seen him make runs into the box Lampard and Scholes would be proud of when given more freedom.
Kanté is also a phenomenal ball carrier. He's generally just a tactical genius. For me, all pieces in that midfield should be built around Kanté.
Pirlo is another odd one. He played at the base of a midfield 3, but just roamed around the pitch, playmaking whenever they found space. Midfield partners like Marchisio and Vidal would provide physically and discipline in midfield. They would move into spaces Pirlo left.
Legitimately the first time a primary playmaker was located deliberately far from the goal. These kinds of players don't pop up often.
