WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 19: Bukayo Saka #7 of Arsenal FC controls the ball as Álvaro Barreal #31 of the MLS-All Stars defends during the MLS All-Star Game at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
2. Could provide backup for Bukayo Saka
Arsenal are said to be interested in a versatile forward, and no one fits the bill quite like Kudus.
The 22-year-old might feel his positional future lies elsewhere, but he primarily operated out wide for Ajax last year and shares many similarities with our own Bukayo Saka, ranging from his agile frame and explosiveness to frequent success with protecting the ball when under pressure.
However, Kudus is often reluctant to use his weaker right foot (a critique once levelled at Saka) and therefore tends to cut inside when attacking, which can make him somewhat predictable.
He would have some way to go before dislodging the Gunners’ Starboy, but good baseline attributes mean Kudus can develop into a fantastic right-wing option and give Saka a richly deserved break.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/iUOk5sLbK8
<p>— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"https://twitter.com/karthikadhaigal/status/1682817161415507968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 22, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>1. Good addition to the midfield department</strong></h2>
<p>The player himself feels he can “do his best” in the #10 position.</p>
<p>While he acts as a jack-of-all-trades within the Ajax setup, Kudus typically features in central areas for Ghana and certainly has the technical profile to succeed there at Arsenal too.</p>
<p>An athletic frame and strong ball-carrying ability suggest Kudus would be particularly suited to the industrious #8 role, yet he also exhibits the tackling and duelling skills to thrive even with more conservative responsibilities.</p>
<p>Additionally, Kudus loves to bring others into the game and can fashion chances via well-weighted through balls, while his vision and positive approach play indicate there is untapped potential for him to become a true creative force.</p>
<p>Comfort anywhere across the pitch makes Kudus a managerial dream.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 way Kudus could be used </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135423" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135423" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1101,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1556938502.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1101" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502-768x528.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502-1536x1057.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 19: Bukayo Saka #7 of Arsenal FC controls the ball as Álvaro Barreal #31 of the MLS-All Stars defends during the MLS All-Star Game at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>2. Could provide backup for Bukayo Saka</strong></h2>
<p>Arsenal are said to be interested in a versatile forward, and no one fits the bill quite like Kudus.</p>
<p>The 22-year-old might feel his positional future lies elsewhere, but he primarily operated out wide for Ajax last year and shares many similarities with our own Bukayo Saka, ranging from his agile frame and explosiveness to frequent success with protecting the ball when under pressure.</p>
<p>However, Kudus is often reluctant to use his weaker right foot (a critique once levelled at Saka) and therefore tends to cut inside when attacking, which can make him somewhat predictable.</p>
<p>He would have some way to go before dislodging the Gunners’ Starboy, but good baseline attributes mean Kudus can develop into a fantastic right-wing option and give Saka a richly deserved break.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 way Kudus could be used </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135366" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135366" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1870,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1530221116-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1870" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530221116-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530221116-768x561.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530221116-1536x1122.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530221116-2048x1496.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta looks on during the pre-season friendly football match FC Nuernberg vs FC Arsenal in Nuremberg, on July 13, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2><strong>3. Increased competition in the Arsenal frontline</strong></h2>
<p>With Gabriel Jesus, <a title="Keep or sell? Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun decision" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/19/arsenal-folarin-balogun-transfer-decision-mikel-arteta/" rel="">Folarin Balogun</a> and Eddie Nketiah already on our books, Kudus is not urgently required to lead the Arsenal attack – but he can definitely perform there if necessary.</p>
<p>As a self-described #10, the Black Stars’ man boasts tremendous technical proficiency and has both the tenacity and eye for combinations to slot into Arteta’s centre-forward role. He also strikes through the ball very cleanly and uses sharp poacher instincts to take advantage of any goal-scoring chances.</p>
<p>Kudus earned regular minutes upfront during the 2022/23 campaign and the experience improved his clinical touch in front of goal, leading to a small xG overperformance in a prolific Ajax team.</p>
<p>But the lack of aerial threat means he does not radically differ from those already housed at the Emirates, and that ‘more-of-the-same’ nature could limit his striking game time here should a transfer materialise.</p>
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<p><a title="3 things Arsenal must do this summer after spending spree" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/23/3-ways-arsenal-could-deploy-mohammed-kudus-next-season/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/05/3-things-arsenal-spending-spree/" rel="">Sales will remain the priority for a few weeks</a>, but this could be just the market opportunity Arteta has been waiting for.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
