According to numerous reports, Arsenal could be set to raid Brighton and Hove Albion this summer by making swoops for both Ben White and Yves Bissouma.
Brighton may not have had the best of seasons, but their style of play may mean that their players are well-suited to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Indeed, just like Arteta’s Arsenal, Graham Potter’s Brighton are a free-flowing side who play out from the back and have a focus on possession – and it’s fair to say White and Bissouma are key to that.
In terms of passing, White and Bissouma are two of the Seagulls’ best. They both rank in the top five in Brighton’s squad for passes completed and pass success rate, and when they get going, they’re an absolute joy to watch.
Perhaps the best example of this was Brighton’s 3-2 win against Manchester City towards the end of the season.
City were thoroughly outplayed on the day, with Brighton having 63 per cent possession against Pep Guardiola’s footballing machine, while their pass success rate was also 6% higher than City’s on the day.
Of course, context is key, City went down to 10 men early on at the Amex, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Manchester outfit were pressing all afternoon, but the likes of White and Bissouma had the skill to exploit the gaps left behind by Joao Cancelo’s dismissal.
The Arsenal-linked pair were particularly brilliant on that day, both ranking very highly in the pass accuracy and pass completion metrics, and while City pressed and pressed, the pair’s brilliance on the ball meant they were only dispossessed once between them in the entire game, leaving City chasing shadows.
Now, think about that type of performance and imagine White and Bissouma in an Arteta team alongside more talented players.
They would have more passing options, more control and more freedom in this Arsenal side, and while they’ve been fantastic at Brighton, they could both reach the next level at the Emirates.
Arteta has been desperate for players like this ever since he became Arsenal manager, and if Edu completes this double swoop, the Spaniard’s system could finally begin to be successfully implemented in north London.
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