Arsenal are interested in bringing highly rated Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf from Red Bull Salzburg, according to the reports by The Mirror.

With many top clubs viz. Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Everton and decent number of German clubs interested in Wolf – Arsenal face a tough test in bringing him to The Emirates.

So, what could be the potential consequences for Arsenal if they manage to sign Hannes Wolf…

SUCCESSOR TO MESUT OZIL OR MKHI REPLACEMENT

With five goals and nine assists already, this season – Hannes has shown he’z got capabilities to directly get involved on the score sheets and is living up to being a ‘wonder-kid’ that a club with statute of Arsenal would want.

With consistent injury problems of Mesut Ozil – many supporters and pundits have started to raise questions. Mesut Ozil have made clear of his aim to retire at Arsenal but with his injury concerns Arsenal need someone to back him up. Someone who is standing tall and filling in Mesut’s shoe when he’s down.

They (Hannes Wolf and Mesut Ozil) got a lot in common, both of them are exclusive playmakers with an eye for pass. Wolf likes to dribble, he is a creative player with technical abilities, close ball control, Cazorla-esque direction shifts in possession and mainly a vision to make through passes to the teammates providing dynamism to the team in the final third. No narrow space is enough to keen Mesut from making the pass he wants and the same lies with Wolf.

Talking about as of now, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is filling in for Mesut Ozil. But is Mkhitaryan the answer Unai Emery needs?

A shade of Arsenal supporters had their frustration with the Armenian known after another gray display against Huddersfield last weekend. To be honest, their criticism ain’t wrong with the performances Mkhitaryan is putting. Nothing to take away from Henrikh, he is an intelligent lad who has been directly involved in five goals in 17 outings this season, but his role at Arsenal under Unai Emery is hangs in the blur.

With series of ‘under the radar’ performances and the character of Unai Emery you could expect him being off loaded maybe in the upcoming summer unless he turns out his purple patch within then.

UNAI EMERY’S TAMED WOLF

Hannes Wolf possess attributes of a player who Unai Emery would like to have in his squad. Wolf is someone with passion, drive, desire but still full of coolness in him.

Emery has always had Wolf-aholic players in his squad. It was David Silva and Juan Mata at Valencia, Ever Banega at Seville, Adrien Rabiot at PSG and maybe Aaron Ramsey right now.

Wolf has got excellent confidence, balance and eagerness to work for the team. Hannes is hard working laddie and a well-rounded forward with notable technical intelligence and versatility. He is capable of playing in the centre as striker, secondary forward, as an attacking midfielder and even as a winger.

One thing we have noticed in Unai Emery is his keenness to change things – be it in match or from match to match. We have seen Emery changing tactics at half-time and he even showed he fears no means when he changed the formation to back-three just after the international break where the majority of first team stars arrived just about couple of days to the match. One need to be highly adaptive to succeed under Emery and here is Wolf, who is naturally receptive to new techniques & tactics, he could just fit in under Unai Emery and stand out on the grass for the Gunners.

RIDE BACK

Unai Emery has multiple times claimed and shown as well that he wants every of his man working hard on the pitch. He wants to start attacks from the goalkeeper and initiate defence from his strikers. Its not only about balance between offensive and defensive duties but also about commitment and togetherness in everything that his team is putting up.

Hannes Wolf maybe an attacking midfielder and a beast on the offensive side of the game but he is someone who is always keen to track back and work for the team. RB Salzburg’s high pressing style of play means he has to grind defensively when not in possession and this is reflected by the stats he possesses. Wolf has made 2.14 interceptions every 90 minutes last season while attempting 6.06 ball recoveries in the opponent’s half and a success rate of 72%.

He will be asked for something similar at Arsenal and looking at the work ethics he puts defensively as well is just another reason that he would seduce Unai Emery into bringing him to Arsenal.

SVEN MISLINTAT’S INIESTA

Arsenal’s head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, recently claimed that he is looking for a player with “Iniesta brains” while scouting for the Gunners. In Sven’s words,” Right. I’m talking about the ability to receive the ball, but keep the opponent in sight all the time, without looking at the ball, and playing the game naturally without thinking about it. It’s automatic (with him). Every motion is captured (in his brain)”.

As I wrote earlier, Wolf plays with a natural flair and is someone who possess a natural technique complemented by ability to take fast decisions under pressure and find space outta nowhere. He is someone who thinks it through and that is something which would just make Mislintat keen to bag him and make him another of his big-name findings.

PROSPECT WHO COULD PAY DIVIDENDS NOW AND, IN THE FUTURE

Wolf has been likened to only the man from Tottenham whom Arsenal fans won’t mind leading their squad – Cristian Eriksen. Now you understand the capabilities this lad has, right?

Wolf has inspired RB Salzburg to UEFA Youth League crown in 2017 with seven goals in seven outings well complemented by assisting both of the finale goals against Beneficia. Wolf made his senior debut for Salzburg on 8 December, 2016 and has featured for Die Roten Bullen’s 45 times, scoring twelve goals and setting up eight more, helping Salzburg win the league and reach the semi-finals last season.

His impressive performances earned him an international call-up too.

Salzburg have gained some reputation for creating outstanding talents including Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Naby Keita. Hannes Wolf is just another one of big-name Salzburg are to create. He is tied to the club until 2020 and is tipped for a bright, bright future.

His form has been brilliant and it leads many of us to believe that he could be the real deal in few years. The nineteen-year-old may just be the next wonderkid to go down the path to European and global stardom and signing for Arsenal may just be the start to his big future and Arsenal’s big road to Premier League title.

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