Arsenal opinion: Arsenal should not sign Bakayoko

According to a report in the Daily Star, Arsenal have been linked with a move for Chelsea midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko. The Frenchman is currently a Chelsea player but was on loan last season at AC Milan.

Bakayoko had a torrid time at Stamford Bridge and has been deemed a flop by many. He joined the Blues amidst much fanfare as the replacement for 2-time Premier League winner, Nemanja Matic.

Bakayoko was part of the successful Monaco side under Leonardo Jardim that won the Ligue 1 in the 2016/17 season.

The team was taken apart the next season with the likes of Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kylian Mbappe sold along with Bakayoko himself. Since then, more players have left the club in Fabinho and Thomas Lemar.

It hasn’t helped Bakayoko’s standing in the game that most of the other Monaco players have been fantastic in their new clubs, barring Thomas Lemar.

It didn’t help that he was replacing Nemanja Matic, who is a very different midfielder to the Frenchman. Matic was mostly tasked with progressing the ball from defence to attack, sweeping up danger and dictating the tempo of the game and had his shortcomings dealt with by N’golo Kante, who would break up play.

Bakayoko is more of a traditional box-to-box midfielder, who can drive through midfield by intercepting or tackling and quickly carry the ball in transition.

He has shown this ability not only during his time at Monaco but also in Milan. However, his form tailed off a little towards the end of the season. It wasn’t just him though, as the entire Milan squad started underperforming.

Arsenal have already got a great ball winner in Lucas Torreira, who has had a fantastic first season for the Gunners. Despite his size, he has met with the physical and the technical demands that have been required of him in the Premier League.

Bakayoko could possibly be a great backup or even a starter for Arsenal but their need for a player of his profile isn’t urgent. Their priority must a centre-back, a left-back, a right-winger and an Aaron Ramsay replacement.

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Conclusion

Bakayoko isn’t a prolific creator or goalscorer, hence, he wouldn’t necessarily fill the void left by the Welshman. It’s probably best that he goes back to Chelsea or finds a buyer elsewhere. Arsenal have other fish to fry at this moment in time.