Three reasons Arsenal should sign Hakan Calhanoglu
Chances are if you have spent anytime on social media or Youtube you have seen one of Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning free-kick goals.
There is of course more to the rising star than being a set-piece maestro and it it little wonder that he has no shortage of suitors including Arsenal.
The Aksam newspaper report that the Gunners are plotting a move for the 23-year-old attacking midfielder.
Per the source, Chelsea and Lazio could both rival the Gunners for Calhanoglu.
We take a look at three reasons why Chelsea should act fast in snapping up the young talent.
See More: ‘Can offer Arsenal what Christian Eriksen offers Spurs’ – Arsenal fans react on social media to reports that Hakan Calhanoglu is a summer transfer target
1. Set Piece Maestro
Calhanoglu is widely regarded as being one of the best in the business with a phenomenal free-kick scoring record – 11 in the Bundesliga. Former Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola described him as being one of the best free-kick takers in the Bundesliga stating, “Çalhanoğlu is one of the best free-kick takers in the Bundesliga.”
The 23-year-old has converted 10.2 percent of his free-kick efforts and has scored 17 times from outside the box since the 2012-13 season.
The Turkish international is a set-piece maestro not limited to scoring direct free-kicks Calhanoglu also has lethal delivery and takes just about every corner and dead ball situation for the currency Bayer side.
Arsenal had a decent record from set-pieces this season, converting 12 times which puts them at eight overall alongside Everton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Burnley. The Gunners have Olivier Giroud and their centre-backs to provide an aerial threat from set-pieces. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are pretty decent from free-kick positions but are not specialists like Calhanoglu.
