The eyes of Arsenal fans were grabbed hours before the Gunners secured a 0-0 first leg result away at Anfield in the League Cup semi-final. There was a match that preceded the valiant efforts on Merseyside that had fans gripped for transfer reasons.
Fiorentina knocked out Napoli in the Coppa Italia after one of the most entertaining ties of not just Italian cup football but across the continent. The game ended 4-2 to la Viola, it included three red cards, a 95th-minute equaliser and most intriguingly of all a top performance from Arsenal transfer target Dusan Vlahovic.
The Serbian forward is credited with being the club’s primary striker option to replace the lengthy list of outgoing forwards.
It is proving a difficult deal to complete with the 21-year-old drawing interest from plenty of clubs around the continent and Arsenal have moved early in an attempt to jump the queue. football.london understands Edu is doing 'everything possible' to bring the player to the club.
However, his performance last night will have only grown interest in the forward after Vlahovic opened the scoring for his side before they eventually knocked out Napoli in the Maradona Stadium.
Vlahovic showed in his display exactly what Arsenal would be getting from the forward. A player who can create a goalscoring opportunity out of nothing and when given the ball in the area, he can be lethal in his finishing.
This was shown early on in the 12th minute of the match where Vlahovic received the ball near the edge of the area. Slowing his run to open up space for himself.
The run of Riccardo Saponara drew the defenders away from Vlahovic who they believe has a lesser chance of scoring. However, Vlahovic turns quickly and fires a looping shot towards David Ospina’s left, curing away and making the former Arsenal keeper parry the ball away for a corner.
These snap moments are what make Vlahovic so lethal at times. He can create space for himself and control the ball with such purpose. Each movement looks predetermined and that was clear again with his goal.
Saponara is again involved on the left-wing. Dusan Vlahovic can actually be seen with an outstretched arm asking for the ball to be played out to the edge of the box. As the Fiorentina wide man however beats his marker and spots a clear path to the Serbian, Vlahovic darts to ensure he gets ahead of Axel Tuanzebe.
The moment Vlahovic touches the ball before the Manchester United loanee it was almost as if the goal had already been scored. The confidence of the 21-year-old made it obvious what would happen next as he took a perfectly weighted touch round the corner before slamming a left-footed strike past Ospina.
Physicality, movement, touch and clinical finishing. All on display and plenty to make Arsenal supporters pine that little bit more in the hope that Edu can pull off mission near-impossible to secure the striker’s signature this January.
It will be an expensive deal however, the opportunity for the Gunners to secure one of the most sought-after players on the planet at present is one they need to try and take.
All the more important considering that a Champions League qualification spot could be won with the help of Vlahovic to push Arsenal over the line.
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