LYON, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 27: Lucas Paquetá of Lyon runs in the field during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Olympique Lyonnais and Lille OSC at Groupama Stadium on February 27, 2022 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
3 reasons why Arsenal should avoid signing Lucas Paqueta
by Adam Schultz
Arsenal are thought to be interested in signing Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, with the 24-year-old believed to be keen on a move away this summer. But do the Gunners really need him?
Another day and another name that has come from absolutely nowhere. One thing Mikel Arteta and Edu have done extremely well is keeping their transfer interests virtually undetected from every journalist and media outlet.
Aside from Gabriel Jesus, every other player (Fabio Vieira, case in point) that has been on Arsenal’s radar has come from nowhere. Lucas Paqueta is the latest, with the midfielder reportedly wanting out of Lyon after rejecting contract talks back in January. But do Arsenal need him?
3 reasons why Arsenal should stay away from Lucas Paqueta
Here is why Arsenal should avoid the 24-year-old.
Price tag
Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports reports that Lyon would be asking for €65m plus add-ons for the midfielder. Club president Jean-Michel Aulas stated back in January that €80 million was the going price, although it is widely thought that the price will not be that high.
Arsenal interested in Lucas Paqueta but no bid made. Lyon will let Paqueta leave but Jean-Michel Aulas still wants at least €65 million plus add ons. Back he January he said he'd hold out for €80 million but told price won't be quite that high.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 10, 2022
Still, €65m is a serious amount of money for a player when they could sign Leicester’s Youri Tielemans for almost a third of the price.
Given that inflation in the market is unavoidable, Arsenal could be well versed in saying thanks but no thanks for the Brazilian midfielder. While just 24 years old, Paqueta is commanding a serious fee from Lyon, and it is clear that the club wants to get as much money as they can for the midfielder.
Just how deep the pockets of Stan Kroenke are this summer remains to be seen. But given that Fabio Vieira (€35m) and Gabriel Jesus (€52.2m) already signify a big chunk of the transfer budget, adding another €65m for one player would be a serious reach, especially given that the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Continued on next slide…
Gabriel Jesus</a>, every other player (Fabio Vieira, case in point) that has been on Arsenal’s radar has come from nowhere. Lucas Paqueta is the latest, with the midfielder reportedly wanting out of Lyon after rejecting contract talks back in January. But do Arsenal need him?</p>
<h2>3 reasons why Arsenal should stay away from Lucas Paqueta</h2>
<p>Here is why Arsenal should avoid the 24-year-old.</p>
<h2>Price tag</h2>
<p>Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports reports that Lyon would be asking for <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/arsenal-interested-lyon-midfielder-lucas-paqueta/">€65m plus add-ons for the midfielder.</a> Club president Jean-Michel Aulas stated back in January that €80 million was the going price, although it is widely thought that the price will not be that high.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arsenal interested in Lucas Paqueta but no bid made. Lyon will let Paqueta leave but Jean-Michel Aulas still wants at least €65 million plus add ons. Back he January he said he'd hold out for €80 million but told price won't be quite that high.</p>
<p>— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1546112336393637888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Still, €65m is a serious amount of money for a player when they could sign Leicester’s Youri Tielemans for almost a third of the price.</p>
<p>Given that inflation in the market is unavoidable, Arsenal could be well versed in saying thanks but no thanks for the Brazilian midfielder. While just 24 years old, Paqueta is commanding a serious fee from Lyon, and it is clear that the club wants to get as much money as they can for the midfielder.</p>
<p>Just how deep the pockets of Stan Kroenke are this summer remains to be seen. But given that Fabio Vieira (€35m) and Gabriel Jesus (€52.2m) already signify a big chunk of the transfer budget, adding another €65m for one player would be a serious reach, especially given that the money could be better spent elsewhere.</p>
<p><em>Continued on 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/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason to avoid Paqueta #2 </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-127640 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1240673075.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240673075.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240673075-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LYON, FRANCE – MAY 14: Lucas Paquetá of Lyon (R) plays against Fabio da Silva of Nantes (L) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Nantes at Groupama Stadium on May 14, 2022 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>His position</h2>
<p>Probably the biggest reason to avoid Lucas Paqueta. While adding him would certainly strengthen the attacking side of the Arsenal midfield, it is going the other way where investment needs to happen.</p>
<p>Paqueta can be deployed in every midfield position needed on a football pitch, except the one the Gunners really need. He CAN play as a deeper-lying, box-to-box midfielder, but he is more dangerous playing as either a number 10, a false nine, or out wide.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/EuroExpert_/status/1546083677121175552?s=20&t=eYzkV6tz1bzOaBsgc1ugMQ</p>
<p>The Gunners have all of those areas already covered following the signing of Fabio Vieira earlier this summer. Adding the 24-year-old would only further give Arsenal something that they already have in spades: attacking, creative midfielders.</p>
<p>While it has been said that Paqueta can play a deeper role, he’s much better performing a more advanced function. Arsenal needs someone to provide cover for the back four. A perfect player to partner with Thomas Partey and to further strengthen what is considered by many the weakest part of Mikel Arteta’s squad.</p>
<p>That’s not to say that Paqueta could not play that deeper role for the club, but given there is already so much forward-thinking talent, it might be best to give him a miss.</p>
<p><em>Continued on 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/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason to avoid Paqueta #3 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-127642 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1373397791.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1373397791.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1373397791-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LYON, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 27: Lucas Paquetá of Lyon runs with the ball during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Olympique Lyonnais and Lille OSC at Groupama Stadium on February 27, 2022, in Lyon, France. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>No Premier League experience</h2>
<p>While this is not a deal-breaker by any means, a lack of Premier League experience is something that Mikel Arteta could see as a reason not to pursue the 24-year-old, especially given his price tag.</p>
<p>The club needs someone who can come in straight away and fill the gap in midfield. Last season the heart of Arsenal’s defence needed fixing; Arteta brought in Benjamin White, who plied his trade with Brighton in the league the season prior.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arsenal have Fabio Vieira who’s a far more effective profile than Lucas Paquetá. Vieira is much more complete and impactful with his actions but also more dangerous due to his ball striking on BOTH feet. </p>
<p>Paquetá is largely one-footed + lacks the variety & directness of Vieira.</p>
<p>— EBL (@EBL2017) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://twitter.com/EBL2017/status/1546138422238134278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 10, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>This summer, a class forward was needed with the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette leaving Arteta signed Gabriel Jesus, who has years of Premier League experience.</p>
<p>While not a prerequisite, the Gunners can’t afford to have a player who will, in all likelihood, cost around €65m to spend the first few months acclimatising to the league. The argument can be made for <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/11/3-reasons-arsenal-should-avoid-lucas-paqueta/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/">Fabio Vieira</a>, but his price tag was nearly half of what Paqueta’s is, and also, he is widely seen as a backup. Paqueta would arrive with mammoth expectations if he was signed for big-money.</p>
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<p>As mentioned, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if Paqueta joined, but the lack of Premier League experience has cost Arsenal with high-priced players before. Just look at Nicolas Pepe.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
