Jan-Age Fjortoft has been speaking to BILD about Evan N’Dicka, as a handful of Premier League clubs – including Arsenal – circle.
What’s the story?
Well, it was The Express who claimed that Arsenal were in talks to sign the towering centre-back for £19m in 2021.
A separate report from BILD added that Tottenham and Southampton wanted to sign N’Dicka.
Now, however, Fjortoft has warned the Frenchman against a move to the Emirates Stadium, as he feels it wouldn’t suit his characteristics.
Speaking to BILD, the Norwegian pundit said: “Of course, with every defender who can head and is tall, people say: he’s one for England, but there are big differences in the Premier League.
“If you play at Burnley, for example, you are almost always deep at the back for 90 minutes and are constantly fighting two-on-one. It’s different to the top clubs, where you have to defend much higher up and, above all, be quick. I would like him to stay.”
So far this season, the 22-year-old has been in fine form for Eintracht Frankfurt, making 33 appearances in all competitions.
In those outings, the Paris-born defender has impressively scored three goals, while also providing three assists.
Evan N’Dicka would thrive at Arsenal
In our view, Fjortoft is talking nonsense.
N’Dicka is a rapid defender, a statement supported by the Bundesliga‘s analysis of him, so he would be more than capable of playing in a high line under Mikel Arteta.
Just look at Ben White. The England international is arguably slower than N’Dicka, but he is thriving at Arsenal alongside Gabriel Magalhães.
With William Saliba returning this summer, the only argument against Arsenal signing N’Dicka would be that he isn’t really needed.
However, to say he wouldn’t be able to cope in a high line is just wrong.
At the age of 22, if Arteta did get his hands on the Eintracht Frankfurt No.2, the Spaniard would surely turn him into a colossus, just like he has with White and Gabriel.
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