On a night in which the Golden Oldies proved that they still had plenty of swivel left in their hips – Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic running the show during Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League semi-final – the Croatia kids proved that the future could be as bright as the present.
Josip Stanisic and Lovro Majer impressed off the bench, Croatia pulling clear after their introductions. The Burnley-linked Luka Ivanusec was a buzzing figure of energy and industry. And, alongside a man 11 years his senior at the heart of Zlatko Dalic’s defence, the Domagoj Vida-partnering Josip Sutalo ensured that Josko Gvardiol is not the only Croatian centre-half with ‘world-class’ potential.
According to The Standard, Arsenal have been sending scouts to watch 23-year-old Sutalo in action for Dinamo Zagreb in recent months.
And if representatives working on behalf of the Gunners had travelled to Rotterdam to watch the £18 million-rated colossus go head-to-head with the Dutch at De Kuip, they will almost certainly have returned to North London with reports as glowing as Sutalo’s future.
Arsenal are big fans of Josip Sutalo
After a nervy start, Sutalo grew into proceedings; stopping attacks at source with his impressive anticipation before starting them with the sort of accurate, probing distribution Mikel Arteta demands from his centre-halves.
Sutalo completed 90 per cent of his passes in Rotterdam. There was one particularly impressive moment, late in proceedings, when Sutalo dashed in to intercept a through ball, got it under control, and then laid the foundations for a quick counter.
There are, perhaps, similarities between Sutalo and Josip Kiwior; the Poland international who joined Arsenal from Spezia in January. Sutalo would likely be brought in as back-up for William Saliba; as Kiwior was for Gabriel Magalhaes. Thus, providing Arteta with a Rob Holding replacement better suited to his progressive, build-from-the-back approach.
“Josip Sutalo is somehow always at the exit door,” admits Dinamo coach Igor Biscan, speaking to Sportske Novosti recently.
“Since I arrived at Dinamo, especially the last four or five games, he has made a very serious shift. He really looks very, very good. Dominant.
“The departure of Josip will be a great loss. We will hardly be able to find a player who will be able to replace him to some extent.”
Dinamo sold Josko Gvardiol to RB Leipzig in 2021 and, since then, he has blossomed into one of Europe’s best young centre-halves. Who is to say Josip Sutalo cannot do the same at Arsenal?
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