3 reasons why Arsenal should sign Benfica's Rodrigo

Arsenal have been crying out for offensive reinforcements after they were left with only one recognized striker in Olivier Giroud after Theo Walcott and Niklas Bendtner’s injury. With the title race heating up, manager Arsene Wenger will look add depth to the squad lest they falter in what is likely to be the closest title race in years. Arsenal have been linked with Benfica starlet Rodrigo, who could be just the sort of signing that would tick all the boxes.

1. Ability to find the back of the net

The majority of Arsenal’s goals have come from midfield, with strikers Giroud, Podolski and Bendtner scoring 9, 3, and 2 respectively out of the 43 goals that they have scored this season. As a result, Arsenal, despite all their fancy interplay and slick passing moves, have had to grind out results the hard way. They lack a player who can find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Rodrigo’s record suggests that he can be that man for Arsenal. The Spaniard has an outstanding record at youth levels and has scored 22 goals in 28 appearances for Spain at U19, U20 and U21 levels. For Benfica, he has scored 35 goals in 92 appearances, 38 of which have come as a substitute. He has been particularly prolific in the cups, scoring 11 goals in 18 appearances, which suggests that he knows how to put the ball in the net.

2. Versatility

All the attacking players who have been linked with Arsenal this January have been versatile forwards capable of playing either as a striker or on the wings, and Rodrigo is no different. The former Real Madrid youth product is a versatile forward who is equally adept at playing as the striker, on the left or the right wing, or even in the hole behind the centre forward.

The left-footed forward has great dribbling ability and ball control, allowing him to beat players using his speed as well as skill. He has decent vision and awareness and can pick out player in the box who are in better scoring positions if need be. Rodrigo has given 10 assists during his stay in Lisbon, which suggests that he can create chances for his team mates as well.

3. The right profile

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made a reputation for himself for unearthing rough diamonds and polishing them into the finished product. From Thierry Henry to Cesc Fabregas to Samir Nasri, there are many players who have come to Arsenal and have developed their game to become superstars, and the likes of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are on that path. While the signing of Mesut Ozil mave have been a deviation from that policy, Wenger will undoubtedly relish the prospect of doing the same with Rodrigo.

The Brazil-born striker is still an unpolished gem, and there are areas of his game that need improvement- he needs support to be effective and tends to struggles to make an impact at times. However, for a striker still learning his trade, he has the most important qualities- he has the finishing ability, the pace and the skill. With Arsenal’s midfielders good at getting forward and supporting the striker, Rodrigo will have less of a problem getting isolated up front, and with Wenger’s guidance, he could become one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League.

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