{"id":1081798,"date":"2019-05-03T11:01:36","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T10:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1081798"},"modified":"2019-05-03T11:01:53","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T10:01:53","slug":"ryan-fraser-solve-arsenal-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/ryan-fraser-solve-arsenal-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Fraser to Arsenal? Unai Emery could solve one big dilemma this transfer window"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal have reportedly identified Bournemouth winger\u00a0Ryan Fraser as one of their top targets this summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The diminutive Scotland international has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence at Dean Court this season, so far registering the joint-most assists of any player in the Premier League (13), while netting seven goals in the process.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7219341-liverpool-have-the-best-full-back-pairing-in-europe<\/p>\n

As such, The Times<\/a> are reporting that Fraser is firmly in Unai Emery’s crosshairs, as the Spanish tactician will look to strengthen his flanks come the end of the season and inject some much-needed pace and precision.<\/p>\n

With the Gunners set to lose\u00a0Aaron Ramsey to Juventus in June, and also unlikely to pay Barcelona the \u00a318m fee required to trigger their permanent option to buy Denis Suarez thanks to his season-ending injury and lack of mintues, the club will need to remedy those impending departures with one or two shrewd acquisitions.<\/p>\n

Couple that with the inconsistency of\u00a0Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the injury proneness of Danny Welbeck, and well, Emery has something of a\u00a0dilemma in the wide areas, with\u00a0only one out-and-out, traditional winger at his disposal in\u00a0Alex Iwobi – step up Fraser.<\/p>\n

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The 25-year-old will see his present contract\u00a0on the south coast expire in the summer of 2020, and so, with one-year remaining on his current deal this summer, Eddie Howe may very well be tempted to cash in should Arsenal come knocking.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Football.London<\/a> report his contract talks with the club have stalled, while Fraser himself hasn’t been shy to admit his flattery at links to Arsenal.<\/p>\n

“They are a huge club, a massive club,” he said of Arsenal’s interest. “When you see your name thrown around you always think to yourself that you are a Bournemouth player and you try to do well.<\/p>\n

“I’m not going to lie, you do feel good, especially when it\u2019s a massive club.”<\/p>\n

Emery is unlikely to be handed huge funds in the coming window and therefore he will need to be resourceful in the market, a factor that could make Fraser a more feasible target.<\/p>\n

But what exactly would the pint-sized winger have to offer for Emery? A\u00a0workaholic wide man, Fraser not only possesses a refined end product as well as virtuosic dribbling skills, but also a tenacity and dogged approach that is a manager’s dream.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/mAdWQC8uI5A<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Squawka\u2019s Youtube channel here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not averse to tracking back, Fraser is happy to do the dirty work and fight for the team; but with a\u00a0low centre of gravity and innate technical qualities, he offers much more of a threat in the final third than in his own half.<\/p>\n

In fact, such is his natural propensity to take on players, former\u00a0Aberdeen manager Craig Brown previously expressed his concern that opposition players were targeting the winger with some rough and over-the-top challenges during his time at\u00a0Pittodrie Stadium.\u00a0And that statement rings true this season as only seven players have won more fouls in the Premier League than Fraser (64).<\/p>\n

“There have been a few young players come through here over the years but in terms of an out-and-out winger with the pace and trickery to take players on, he\u2019s excellent.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s a testament to him that he\u2019s getting fouled so many times in games and a lot of it is not\u00a0intentional. He\u2019s just too quick, I know that from training.”<\/em><\/p>\n

– Former Aberdeen teammate and captain,\u00a0Russell Anderson, on Fraser<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To put into perspective just how influential Fraser has been for Bournemouth this season; he has created more big chances for his teammates than any player in the Premier League (25), nine ahead of second-placed Eden Hazard and 10 ahead of Mohamed Salah.<\/p>\n

He has also created the third-most chances (81), as well as registering the third-most successful crosses and corners combined (65), showing just how invaluable he is from a dead-ball scenario as well as from the byline.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Fraser has created 21 Big Chances in the Premier League this season, at least eight more than any other player.<\/p>\n

Wee man, BIG numbers. ? pic.twitter.com\/f8XyMXPTMw<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n