Arsenal are on the lookout to strengthen their defence this summer. Losing both Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba to season-ending injuries with around ten matches left of the campaign proved devastating to the Gunners’ title hopes.
With that in mind, Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for players who can offer the competitive level of depth and quality they need. One such player who, according to the Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri has reported that talks are underway between Arsenal and Leicester City, is Timothy Castagne.
The Belgian international was relegated with the Foxes and therefore the Gunners might be looking to exploit a financially viable opportunity. They have already had success in this field when they took Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United and have since seen the now-England international rise to become one of the most valuable keepers in the world.
Yet some supporters have made their views of Castagne clear on social media that the Belgian is perhaps a somewhat underwhelming link. With that said football.london takes a dive into the statistical comparisons of Castagne between him and the exiting right-back at Arsenal Ben White in addition to an understood alternative Ivan Fresneda.
Arteta sees defensive ability as a priority when it comes to the majority of his back four, outside of the inverted role Oleksandr Zinchenko provides. Castagne does indeed compare well in this field, with more tackles per 90 (2.4) compared to White (1.77) and slightly below Fresneda (2.47) according to FBREF.
However the context is key here, with both Arsenal and Leicester operating at different ends of the table, Fresneda’s Real Valladolid another side that was relegated, perhaps the two non-Arsenal players had more opportunities to make challenges. Therefore taking tackle success into account Castagne again ranks well at 70.9% compared to White’s 51.4% and Fresneda’s 70.9%.
At 6’1, it’s unsurprising that Castagne wins more aerial duels (47%) compared to Fresneda (30.8%) and White (44.6%). Perhaps this is an aspect that might help the Gunners defend set pieces?
Interceptions per 90, again Castagne (1.19) beats White (0.65) and Fresneda (0.77). Regarding clearances per 90 the Belgian (3.04) has slightly less than Fresneda (3.09) but more than White (2.33) but perhaps this again is down to the context of the players.
Moving into the passing side and how the Belgian might contribute further forward, his pass completion (80.1%) is better than that of Fresneda (77%) but not as impressive as White (84.2%). With White operating in a pass-heavy Arsenal side his opportunities as far more frequent than the relegated pair.
However shot-creating actions see the Belgian dip with 1.41 per 90 compared to White’s 1.89 and Fresneda’s 2.01. That said, with two goals and three assists he still demonstrates his threat in the final third and that was for a very disappointing Leicester side, where Fresneda failed to record a single-goal contribution; White ended the title-winning season with five assists and two goals.
Castagne may not be the most high-profile name Arsenal will be linked to this summer, yet he presents as a potential shrewd piece of business that the club can do and open up further opportunities in the market elsewhere in the team. No doubt having Castagne and Tomiyasu provides an excellent amount of versatility to cover several areas of the field.
The contents of the article do not match the click-baity title. There's a reason why the initial reaction to reports of our interest in Castagne have been lukewarm - no one who's consistently watched the PL this year would say that Castagne is a better player than White, much less "oust" him from our XI.
That being said, we need more depth, and if Edu/Arteta think they can incorporate him, then I'm all for it.
The only reason I can think of that this would happen is if we do get Riceido and absolutely have to get some warm bodies in at right back at bargain bin prices. While he slimmed down last summer and got a lot faster, he does spend most of his time running and that can't be sustainable over a long period, especially without a good substitute. I also never really know about picking up players from relegation candidates; there are always diamonds in the rough but it's so difficult to tell whether they were merely a product of their environments or if there's something there. Agree that if Eduteta see something in him, I'm not going to get pissy about it.