If Mikel Arteta watched Turkey’s 3-1 victory over Georgia, he was clearly impressed. He must have called Arsenal sporting director Edu and inquired as to the status of the Ferdi Kadioglu transfer. Kadioglu, Turkey’s and Feneberhace’s left-back, shone against Georgia.
Kadioglu’s game by numbers vs. Georgia:
94% pass accuracy
66/70 passes completed
4 chances created
3 interceptions
2/3 tackles won
1 big chance created
In that encounter, he demonstrated not just his ability to play as an inverted left back but also his ability to overlap and play cutbacks. He also demonstrated that he is a superior version of Oleksander Zinchenko, capable of both attacking and defending.
Turkish journalist Mehmet Demirkol waxed lyrical about Kadioglu’s performance against Georgia.
He said, “Ferdi Kadıoğlu has set the standard in such a way… Yesterday, I said very clearly, there is no team in the world that will not take him. He has set the standard in such a place. If he plays badly from now on, we will talk about him. To give credit to Fenerbahçe as well, “The number 10, from the club he came to as a skinny young man, leaves the club as a full-back who is among the best in the world in his back-footed skills.”
Arsenal have been linked with him; in fact, it was said that they had a £17 million deal for his services rejected, so I hope they come back for him.
The left-back position was rather problematic last season, and as much as we want to improve next season, investing a lot of money to bring in a top talent like Kadioglu to sort it out once and for all is sensible.
It is a no-brainer that Kadioglu represents a significant transfer opportunity; the Turkish standout, who began as a playmaker but can also play as a left back, right back, central midfielder, right winger, and left winger, might be a valuable asset at the Emirates.
Kadioglu is the ideal utility player for any team due to his two-footedness and outstanding technical ability.
Darren N
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Let’s observe him in the next games. He looks like he could be the solution for our left side of the defense
The quality of Kadioglu as a left back is in no doubt. But I think that two factors would determine if Arsenal go full blast to acquire him:
– the status of our existing left backs. particularly Zinchenko. If the Croatian does not leave, it would be difficult to see Arsenal go spend big money on a left back
– the position of Fernabache’s new coach, Mr Mourinho. He may resist any attempt to sell the player, more so to Arsenal, a club for which he has little, if any, affection.
I really do not get the hype which surrounds this player as based on what I observed in the match against Georgia he would not improve the Arsenal team.Like other inverted left backs he invariably turns back to his stronger right foot and plays simple passes sideways and backwards.Basically he does the same job as Trippier is currently obliged to do for England in view of the absence of Shaw and one or two others.To bring balance to our side ,like,Real Madrid, PSG, Barca and care I mention Spurs we need a quality, left footed left back.
Zinchenko is Ukrainian, not Croatian.