Wolves winger Jhon Arias has faced his share of criticism this season, but he has addressed those early struggles with some open and honest comments.
The club brought him in from Fluminense for £19 million, making him their second signing of the summer.
Arias was brought in to replace Matheus Cunha and even took over the number 10 shirt. But things have not started as smoothly as fans had hoped, and he has yet to register a goal or assist for Wolves.
While it has not been for lack of chances, it just has not happened for him so far.
New manager Rob Edwards will need to figure out how to get the best out of the Colombian star.
Arias was recently nominated for Best Men’s Midfielder at the FIFA Best awards, proving that Wolves possess untapped potential that remains to be fully utilised.
Jhon Arias opens up on difficult spell at Wolves
Defensively, he has put in a shift, but going forward, the impact just has not been there yet.
He nearly got off the mark with a free-kick against Burnley, which could have changed his fortunes.
But until now, he is still waiting for that first meaningful contribution in attack. The hope is that Edwards’ arrival will give him the spark he needs.
The 28-year-old sounds determined to make things right, and made his intentions clear in a recent interview. He told Radio Caracol:
“Would I sign for Wolves again? Yes, totally. I’m very calm about my decision.
“I knew there would be difficulties, but I like challenges because they’re the best way to grow and learn… by stepping out of your comfort zone. Days of glory and joy will come.”
Edwards must get Arias firing
When Edwards comes in, getting more out of Arias should be near the top of his to-do list.
It has not been the introduction he wanted, and while there is plenty of chatter online about his form, he is still a player who could have a real impact for Wolves.
Arias spent years performing well at Fluminense, and while the Brazilian league is not on par with the Premier League, his quality is not in doubt.
He also impressed at the Club World Cup and has plenty of international experience to back that up.
Arias has already played in multiple roles since arriving at Molineux, and it never really seemed clear where Pereira thought he fit best. Under Edwards, though, things need to be more settled. Confidence looks like an issue right now, but even a single goal might be enough to turn things around for him.
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