Should Arsenal consider Carlos Vela's buy-back clause?

Carlos Vela

Arsenal have the option to buy back 24-year-old forward Carlos Vela for just £3.5million due to a clause they inserted into the contract when they sold him in 2012. Since he officially left the London, Vela has excelled in Spain, with many Arsenal fans calling for the club to activate the clause.

Vela impressed in spells at Arsenal, including some brilliant chipped goals. But when the club changed to a lone striker system, Vela missed out. At the time, the young Mexican didn’t have the physical attributes to succeed as a lone striker in a physically demanding league. Since then he has improved pretty much every area of his game, and has also been successful in several positions, including on the wing and just behind the striker. His progression in Spain could be attributed to the league style suiting his play a lot more than the Premier League.

Vela first joined Real Sociedad on a season long loan deal, and after impressing, the Spanish club decided to take up the option to sign him. During his three senior seasons at Arsenal, he managed just three league goals and one assist. As he enters his third season with Real Sociedad, Vela has already netted 28 times, and assisted 20 in 76 league games. This is a significant improvement, and Vela could finally be a player ready to now succeed in the Premier League.

He told Geoff Shreeves ahead of Sociedad’s tie against Manchester United that a return to Arsenal could happen ‘one day’, “Yes they (Arsenal) have the option (to buy back). Every summer they can take the buy option. But for the moment it is difficult.”

“They are good now. I am good now. I don’t think it is the best moment to go back to Arsenal. Maybe (one day).”

What would he add to the current Arsenal squad? Apart from the obvious addition of another striking option, Vela adds certain qualities that are lacking in Arsene’s armory. A quick, versatile and skillful attacking option, Vela is a perfect forward for Arsenal’s interchangeable, technically gifted attack.

He made 84 shots last season, with 58% hitting the target. This was the tenth most in the league. With the 15th best Squawka performance score in La Liga, Vela’s name is starting to be compared with the best. He’s still fairly weak in the air, winning just 21 headers in his 35 league games, with a 36% success rate.

Vela has a poacher’s instinct in front of goal, with all of his 14 league goals last season coming from inside the box. He hasn’t been as prolific so far this season, with two in eight games. However, with 15 key passes, his creative ability is again showing signs of development.

Carlos Vela’s average shot accuracy

Arsenal have the option to buy back Vela for a very cheap price. And if they cannot secure the signing of a big name striker soon, Vela could prove to be a shrewd addition to Arsenal’s thin attacking options. There is a possibility that he could flop in the Premier League, with his game being more suited to the nature of La Liga.

It may prove best for both parties to hold off for at least another season, giving the player more time to establish himself as one of the best creative forwards in Europe. Arsene Wenger will be watching the situation closely, and won’t be afraid to activate a clause he insisted on being included.

??Football graphics and stats from Squawka???