Lucas Paqueta: a midfield magician who would shine at Arsenal
Stuart Telford
- 10 Jul 2022 04:55 CDT
- 4 min read
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Lyon's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta. He would be a fine addition to Mikel Arteta's burgeoning squad.
Arsenal have already signed an impressive Brazil international in the shape of Gabriel Jesus, the forward completing a £45m/€53m transfer from Manchester City. Jesus has also been joined by Fabio Vieira (from Porto), Matt Turner (New England Revolution) and Marquinhos (Sao Paulo).
A potential move for Paqueta would be as exciting as any that have preceded it, though, with Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas recently confirming that a bid had been tabled.
Lucas Paqueta is one of the most watchable players in the world. So graceful on the ball.
Would be a fine addition to Arsenal and the Premier League. Hope Lyon can get a fair value for him. pic.twitter.com/pUn5XqQgIR— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) July 10, 2022
"There are proposals for him," he admitted. "There are certain players who can feel complete in the project, and others who don't. Economically, we have the means to pursue our ideas and objectives.
"I want to keep all the good players, but you also have to be realistic," added coach Peter Bosz. "There is the player who is very important in the matter, the coach, the club, the other clubs. It is always a game between the different parties."
What kind of player is Paqueta?
Paqueta had a false start in European football after leaving Flamengo for AC Milan in 2019, only scoring one goal in 44 outings across his season-and-a-half at the San Siro, but he has blossomed since moving to Lyon in late 2020.
A left-footed attacking midfielder, Paqueta prefers to line up in the No.10 position but has also been used across the midfield and as a striker this term.
🇧🇷 🤩 @LucasPaqueta97 makes it look easy!#Ligue1UberEats | @OL_English 🦁 pic.twitter.com/XS6N07Dwto
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 28, 2022
Despite Lyon's struggles as a team - OL could only finish eighth in the league last term - Paqueta scored nine goals and assisted six, and his underlying stats suggest he could have had even more in each column.
Paqueta is a svelte 5'11" player whose silky-smooth control makes him a nightmare for opposition markers to dispossess, but as well as his crowd-pleasing evasions, he also does a lot with the ball after keeping it.
Paqueta was in the 91st percentile for shots league-wide last season, and the 94th for progressive passes received, but he was also diligent in trying to win the ball back - as evidenced by his averages of 24 pressures and three tackles per game.
Do Arsenal need him?
Arsenal are certainly spoiled for choice in their attacking midfield positions. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Emil Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli represent an embarrassment of riches in the final third, and to a man, they should have the best of their careers still ahead of them.
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But Arsenal were pipped at the post by North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a Champions League place last season, and the signing of Jesus shows that they want more players who are ready to operate at the highest level in the here and now.
Paqueta is that player. He scored against Paris Saint-Germain home and away in 2021/22 and he also found the target three times for Brazil as they secured qualification for the coming winter World Cup in Qatar.
"Lucas is a very important player, but it depends on what the player wants," added Bosz.
If he wants Arsenal, the Gunners should lap him up.
