Market opportunity, box dominant chance magnet, unceasing runner who would make us unstoppable on the transition & in the box if you feed him. Very useful player if we can do it cheap, drop a £30m bid and test their resolve.

Pio Esposito is picking up heaps of hype for his recent performances, but how good actually is he and where does he excel? (THREAD) 🧵🇮🇹

Pablo Barrios is kinda like a lesser Frenkie De Jong. Excellent ball carrier and manipulator. Carries from deep, destroys presses. Great engine to cover loads of ground. Very progressive although not as good a passer in comparison to FDJ, still impressive though.

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If he can keep on this trajectory, by the time he hits 25 we should be looking at a top striker. To put it simply, Esposito is one of the most exciting CF prospects around. A rare profile that the modern game is crying out for, Italy and Inter have got a gem.

In terms of current weaknesses ~inconsistent finishing when setting up shots for himself ~can take too long to get shots off when not rolling defenders/facing them ~yet to see his passing release others in transition much (not enough material to make definite judgement)

~physically robust with a strong core, great under contact ~can be used as a targetman to relieve pressure ~uses his body to find shots from awkward angles ~very unselfish and facilitates others around him ~gets shots away from all angles

So to summarise him currently. ~good false 9, solid linkup with deeper runners ~extremely nimble despite large frame ~box dominance, helped by spatial awareness, zone dominance, strong leap and reach ~very clean connection at first contact (aerially or on the floor)

Far more comfortable receiving back to goal and using his body to roll defenders and get shots away, but still his finishing from these scenarios could improve.

Can strike a ball well, although inconsistent. Especially when he’s setting shots up for himself. When his back isn’t to goal, he can take too long to get his shots away and perhaps overthinks leading to inconsistent finishing.

If you’re under high pressure, you can go long to him to be relieved. He stays low, strong and pins the CBs. More often than not dominant enough to force the opposition deeper from these scenarios.

He dominates the box with his movement, size and instincts to go across/inbetween centre backs. Has a great leap and reach to help him in that regard. This combined with unselfishness and facilitating makes him remind me of someone like Giroud in a way.

When the ball is crossed into him, he has an extremely clean connection with the ball at first contact. Whether that be one touch finishes or headers, it most usually ends up in the back of the net. https://t.co/KebQxIzDmx

@CalcioZNE 🎥

He excels at linking up with midfielders floating off him. He’s excellent at holding the ball up and being a backboard for others. For his size, he’s very nimble. Uses the ball brilliantly and has an edge in the box for finding shots with his back to goal/from awkward angles.

What separates him currently from a Kane or Dzeko is his playmaking/ consistency in all kinds of finishing. Both were extremely gifted at releasing others in transition with killer passing, something I’m yet to see from him (not playing with many runners could play a part)

Esposito has that old school CF feel. Big and robust with a strong core so he handles contact very well. Dzeko/Kane like. When it’s played long to him it’s almost impossible to put him under pressure, uses his body exceptionally to hold up and then combine with deeper players.

Pio Esposito is picking up heaps of hype for his recent performances, but how good actually is he and where does he excel? (THREAD) 🧵🇮🇹

Arsenal only have a creativity issue when teams go low and physical against us. ~Nico W/Barcola or Leao, creative game breaker from the left ~Wharton, a passer who can operate BTL, inside the block ~Nunez, a movement CF who can create chaos & plethora of chances for himself

Arteta wanted Raphinha, Isak, Sesko, Nico Williams and the list goes on. Yet, yesterday the front three that was used wouldn’t look out of place at a Fulham or West Ham etc. Despite this, people will still blame Arteta for our attack looking poor at times.