According to Turkish Football, Arsenal along with Tottenham have been scouting Roma winger Cenzig Under and have even contacted representatives.
What’s the word, then?
Under has been in negotiations with Roma over a new contract but Arsenal and Spurs remain interested in the winger as the Giallorossi remain locked in talks with their man over a new deal.
The clubs have been scouting the Roma star throughout the season and have made contact with the player’s representatives.
The Turkish winger’s contract isn’t actually due to expire for another three years, but negotiations over a new deal began as supposedly his pay doesn’t reflect his status in the team and is one of the lowest paid in the first-team despite being an integral part of the XI.
There is a reluctance at Roma to match the financial package Under is seeking due to the uncertain economic position the club finds itself in, and the North London clubs look set to pounce.
Winger the perfect Ramsey replacement?
Over the season fans have raised doubts about the inconsistency in Unai Emery’s systems. As the year’s gone on, the Head Coach has been on the look out for a solution to fitting all his best players into the starting XI, even if it means compromising on his philosophy. With Aaron Ramsey leaving this summer for Juventus, Under’s potential arrival could be the perfect replacement and solution to the Spaniard’s selection headache, despite the two stars playing completely different positions.
The general consensus is that for Arsenal to replace Ramsey, another box-to-box midfielder must fill the void. Over the year Emery has had to move Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Mesut Ozil out wide to accommodate for the Welshman when he’s the starting at number 10, and the boss has even often set his team up without wingers due to a lack of quality in that area. The arrival of Under could however provide a balancing act not only in replacing Ramsey’s quality but also in addressing the midfield-heavy nature of the Arsenal’s squad.
Emery’s use of wing-backs has looked to paper of the cracks of Arsenal non-existent presence out wide. Alex Iwobi has struggled to flourish on the wing and Mkhitaryan has also looked uncomfortable and awkward. The 3-4-1-2 formation, which seems to be Emery’s preferred system at the end of this season, could be easily tweaked by Under coming in for Ramsey. Whilst the Roma man won’t be a natural, like-for-like replacement, he’ll take up a different role in the starting XI that needs filling, leaving the rest of the squad to cover for the Juve-bound midfielder.
What you could end up seeing is a move towards Emery’s preferred system of 4-2-3-1 with the new balance in the squad. Ainsley Maitland-Niles could step into midfield, the position he’s most comfortable playing, as Hector Bellerin returns from injury. Immediately the dynamism and energy of Ramsey is replaced and the width provided by the English youngster at right wing-back is now delivered by a natural winger and the creativity in the heart of the side can be channeled through Mkhitaryan or Ozil.
Whilst he doesn’t play the exact same position or role as Ramset, Under’s arrival can give Emery the freedom to persist with his philosophy and system, to embrace the use of wingers, and to eradicate the need for a box-to-box player in the side, instead choosing two more defensively minded pivots, something that can also help address Arsenal’s defensive issues.
