It usually takes some time before Arsene Wenger jumps in to the summer transfer market and scoops up the talent that he wants to fill out his roster but he certainly got the player he was gunning for this year when Arsenal signed Arturo Vidal.
The 28-year-old Chilean was recently involved in a possible drunk driving accident in his home country that may have scared some teams away but the bottom line is that he is still considered a major talent that is still in the prime of his career and capable of producing at a high level. Here is a look at what Vidal to Arsenal means for the player and the club from a fantasy perspective looking forward to next season.
Vidal Will Play A Starring Role
The majority of experts had Vidal making the move from Juventus to Arsenal, so it’s no surprise that it finally happened. It’s clear now that he will have every opportunity to play a starring role in the Gunners midfield. Vidal was outstanding for the Serie A side a year ago – both in league play and in the Champions League – and he finished the season with seven goals and four assists in 23 games started. Juventus led the Serie A with 72 goals scored last season and much of it was because of his creativity in the middle.
Arsenal undoubtedly needs more consistency in the middle of the pitch where Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are all decent options but have had trouble staying healthy. And while each are supposed to be the future of English soccer, none have exactly emerge as stars just yet. Vidal is more of a proven commodity and will get the chance to start every game for Arsenal. His creativity and finishing ability will be a major factor in him being a fantasy star for the Gunners.
The Strikers Will Benefit
Vidal’s insertion in the middle of the field should help Arsenal’s overall scoring production and the strikers will undoubtedly benefit from his creativity and presence in the middle of the pitch. Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud combined for 30 goals last season and both players could see small improvements in their goal production with Vidal helping to bring some pace to the midfield and putting his teammates in position to finish. Arsenal didn’t lack at the offensive end as they did manage to score 71 goals last season, which was the second best tally in the EPL. However, Vidal should make their strength even stronger. The Gunners have a plethora of weapons up front and Vidal should slot in as the perfect fit for the Arsenal midfield with the strikers also benefiting from his presence.
Wenger Will Be More Creative
Perhaps the most important aspect of Vidal’s addition to the Gunners midfield is the flexibility that it will give Wenger in the middle and the opportunity he will have to be more versatile. While Vidal and the strikers can be counted on for their production, the reality is that there are only so many minutes to go around and that could mean other players having their minutes limited. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, and Santi Cazorla could each potentially have their minutes limited by Vidal’s presence in the middle, so it will be very interesting to see what Wenger does with the potential to be more creative.
For example, a lot is thought of a guy like Oxlade-Chamberlain but if he’s banged up for a third consecutive season or if he’s not progressing with his development, he might start riding the pine a little bit. It won’t be a major issue in Daily Fantasy Leagues but it will become a problem for annual fantasy leagues if Wenger is constantly switching things up in the midfield. You’ll have to keep an eye on who’s the flavor of the week when you’re starting your weekly lineups.
