Jamie Carragher has compared Arsenal transfer target Rafael Leao to Thierry Henry after his Champions League showing on Tuesday night.
AC Milan beat rivals Napoli to progress through to the semi-final of the Champions League and Carragher stated that Rafael Leao was ‘devastating’ on the night.
After scoring a brace in Naples a couple of weeks ago in the league, the 23-year-old was at it again, this time turning provider for former Arsenal man, Olivier Giroud.
After bursting forward, including skipping past a number of Napoli players, Leao proceeded to cut the ball back into the path for Giroud to finish home.
It was a moment of pure brilliance from the AC Milan winger and he got the highest of praises from Carragher, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (18/04/23 at 8:55 pm).
“I gave Leao the big build in the last game,” said Carragher. “I spoke about his ability on the counter-attack.
“I said that ‘we may see it more in the away leg because Napoli have got to go on the front foot’. And that man Olivier Giroud puts it away.
“But this guy is absolutely devastating. When he is in full flow, running like that, then he is very reminiscent of the man on my right (Thierry Henry). That inside left channel. When you see Thierry Henry getting the ball and going past players, it’s very similar. It’s a sight to behold.”
ARSENAL’S INTEREST IN LEAO
The Portugal International certainly fits the profile of what Mikel Arteta looks for in a winger and he would thrive in his system.
Whatever happens with the Premier League title, Arsenal will be in the Champions League next season.
So, even after adding Leandro Trossard to their books, more added quality is going to be needed, hence the transfer links with Leao and Arsenal.
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