Young and Fearless: Should Arsenal target this rampaging midfielder?

Top clubs are always on the lookout for young European talent and Adrien Rabiot is the latest prospect linked with the Premier League. The Paris-Saint Germain midfielder has been pushed back down the pecking order in the French capital and has hinted that he may look to depart in order to get first-team football. Arsenal and Tottenham have both been linked according to The Express, but is he worth their attentions?

“If a new midfielder is recruited in the winter transfer window, it will change the game for me. I would then think about my future,” he told Le Parisien.

Rabiot is a hugely talented youngster who is very highly rated at PSG. Former head coach, Carlo Ancelotti promoted him to the first team squad and gave him his debut last season. After impressing for PSG’s youth sides Ancelotti saw enough in Rabiot to give him his first chance in Ligue 1.

The 18-year-old is a powerful runner from midfield with excellent close ball control and has a fantastic left foot. He can create as well as battle in midfield. From the face of things, PSG would be mad to let him go but with the amount of spending power they have, they can find a short-term solution from across Europe rather than give youth a chance.

This is why Rabiot is tempted to leave, alerting many clubs.

For PSG last season, he played just 6 times with an average pass accuracy of 89%, a superb figure. He also spent some of last season on loan at fellow Ligue 1 side, Toulouse, playing 13 games and scoring once.

This season, however, he has had much more time on the field, appearing eight times in Ligue 1 already. Furthermore, if you add his two Champions League appearances to that and it’s clear he’s being given more of a chance.

Domestically, he has scored once this season, against Guingamp in a 2-0 win. In the 25 minutes he was on the pitch, he managed to take two shots; one narrowly wide and the other, a goal. He also completed 19 of 24 passes, making most of his passes from the inside left channel.

Adrien Rabiot Heat Map v Guingamp

He also won 60% of his duels which included winning his only tackle and one of the two headers he challenged for. His overall tackling statistic is something to take notice of and gives an indication of the type of player he is. From the 16 tackles he has attempted, he has won 15 – an excellent ratio.

Adrien Rabiot Duels Won (This Season)

Rabiot is an exciting prospect so it comes as no surprise to hear that there is alleged interest from north London. However, positive his quotes may seem, he is clearly seeking first-team football and he may not be offered that at either Spurs or Arsenal considering the midfielders they have at their disposal.

If Arsenal would like a rampaging, skilful central midfielder who’s capable of battling as well as creating in the final third, then he is their man. Rabiot is a very promising talent; a future French international.