Thursday 2 June 2016 14:54, UK
Arsenal have been strongly linked with Juventus' Alvaro Morata, but is he the striker they're looking for?
The clock was ticking towards a penalty shoot-out when Massimiliano Allegri signalled to the hunched figure sitting restlessly on the Juventus bench. Twelve minutes remained to break AC Milan's resistance in a dour Coppa Italia final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. In the end, Alvaro Morata only needed two.
One hundred and twenty-two seconds after jogging onto the pitch in place of midfielder Hernanes, Morata swept Juan Cuadrado's cross into the net with his first touch. The goal clinched an historic second consecutive domestic double for Juventus, and it further enhanced the Spaniard's reputation as a big-game specialist.
Since joining the Old Lady last season, Morata has scored in both legs of a Champions League semi-final against boyhood club Real Madrid. He has scored in a Champions League final against Barcelona. He has scored decisive goals against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. And he has now scored the winner in a Coppa Italia final.
It is likely to be his last contribution for Juventus. Real Madrid have the option to activate a buy-back clause to take the striker back to the Bernabeu this summer, but the strongest interest appears to have come from Arsenal. This week the 23-year-old revealed he has received "tempting offers" from England, and newspaper reports put him at the top of Arsene Wenger's wishlist.
So is he the answer to Arsenal's striker conundrum? Morata seems to think so. "I think my characteristics mean the Premier League would be a great destination," he told Spanish newspaper AS after his call-up for the Euros. His pace and technical skill are certainly well-suited to Arsenal, and his clinical winner at the Stadio Olimpico last Saturday was a timely reminder of his finishing ability - as was his double for Spain against South Korea on Wednesday.
But perhaps his next comment was more revealing. "With what I have learned in Italy, if I have the chance to learn something more in England I think it would make me a more complete player," he said. By his own admission, Morata is still learning. His big-game heroics have raised his profile and sent his price-tag north of £30m, but they mask modest experience and an unremarkable overall scoring record.
Since his debut in 2010, Morata has made just 35 La Liga and Serie A starts with Real Madrid and Juventus, and he has never reached double figures for goals in a single league campaign. Last year he found himself behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente in Allegri's pecking order. This year it was Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.
Morata's total of 12 goals in 47 appearances in 2015/16 came at a rate of one every 196 minutes. It's a long way short of the elite, and while the much-maligned Olivier Giroud might not be the striker to take Arsenal to the next level, he did at least average a goal every 140 minutes.
It highlights the scale of what is expected at the Emirates Stadium. No Arsenal striker has hit over 20 Premier League goals since Robin van Persie in 2011/12, and Wenger has made pointed references to the issue in recent months. "We don't have anybody with 20 goals in the league, so that is a handicap," he told Sky Sports in April.
It raises questions of Morata's suitability. His potential is considerable and his knack for delivering as an impact player in big games is undoubtedly appealing, but Arsenal have more pressing requirements. The Gunners created more clear-cut chances (88) than any other Premier League side over the course of the season, but their profligacy cost them in games against Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Norwich and West Brom to name a few.
It's not just a big-game specialist they need, it's a consistent goalscorer. It's less than two months since Wenger pinpointed poor results against the Premier League's so-called smaller sides as the reason Arsenal fell short of the title, but Morata would need to drastically increase his output to meet the level the Gunners require.
Wenger has always maintained that the pool of ready-made strikers who could instantly improve Arsenal is a shallow one, and he might also point to his proud record for developing striking talent. Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie have blossomed under his guidance, so why shouldn't Morata be next?
It is a reasonable argument, but the real question is whether Arsenal can afford another gamble. Patience is wearing thin at the Emirates Stadium, and supporters have little appetite for another project as Wenger enters the final year of his contract. Arsenal are operating in the here and now. The hero of the Coppa Italia would meet very different expectations in north London.
