Adam Rae Voge Profile picture
One half of @cannonstats, your blog for all things Arsenal and numbers. I won’t rest until people understand the transfer market.

Jul 31, 2021, 12 tweets

Who is Lautaro Martinez? Here's a breakdown of his numbers at Inter, and how he compares to other notable strikers linked with the club this summer. (1/x)

Put it simply: The 23-year-old Argentine is good. Lautaro played a key role ending Juventus' reign this season and leading Inter to the Scudetto, with 17 G and 6 A for a club that also included Romelu Lukaku and his 35 G/A. He was key in their run to the UEL finals last year.

A couple of solid comps for Lautaro: Alvaro Morata and Gabriel Jesus. They all finished at around the same skill level last season, all put solid pressure on the ball, Lautaro lags a bit as a playmaker/creator.

One of Lautaro's strengths is his 1-on-1 play. I like him on the ball, a scrappy type with the ability to beat his man. Here's how he stacks up statistically with his comps (Morata/Jesus) and Arsenal's current talent. You can see he too prone to miscontrolling the ball.

One of Lautaro's strengths is his ability to press the ball like a machine. Here you can see he would be an upgrade on Auba in this area. Arsenal do already have a great pressing striker in Lacazette.

I don't have a statistic for this, but I could see Lautaro as a good fit for the Ben White style of long pass, running in behind the defense early in the attack.

I do think Lautaro's passing could be better, but he'd be an upgrade over Auba or Laca. Key Passes, shots created both better than Arsenal's current strikers. Devil's advocate in me wonders how not having Lukaku around would change things. 3 of his 6 A were to the big fella.

The other thing I'd say: I think he could be a better finisher. He scores some spectacular goals, but he misses some relatively easy ones, too. In about 2.5 seasons at Inter, he's a slightly-below-average finisher, mathematically speaking. 38% shots on target, Auba is 44% career

Here's an important comparison in my book. Tammy Abraham's numbers from 19-20 were remarkable in terms of being a pure scorer. Lautaro brings a bit more creativity and defensive mettle. Of course, this is Premier League vs. Serie A, so digest responsibly.

Is the above difference worth £25 million or more? That's a big decision to make. The other thing that bugs me, besides the massive cost in the face of other needs: Why would Lautaro sign for Arsenal? It's a huge club, but he's played huge European games the past two yrs.

I also wonder what this move would mean for Aubameyang short term, with two years left at huge wages. Would he play off the left? Would he play together with Lautaro, a la Lukaku at Inter? I really don't know how (or if) they fit. Of couse, Laca would have to go.

Perhaps it really is just about making the most money possible. In which case, Arsenal could be a good move for him. But this is one of those (very exciting) links that should be read with a healthy grain of salt until we've see the (leaked) signing photo.

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