Everything Arsenal fans need to know about their goal-grabbing target

As Arsenal look set to purchase French youngster Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre, let’s take a look at just how good the young Frenchman is. After breaking onto the scene in the French under 19s team in 2010, his last two years have been dogged by injuries. He suffered a broken leg and after recovering had injuries related to that leg break which in total saw him miss two years of football.

Despite this injury period, there is no doubt that Sanogo has all the raw ability to make it in the Premier League. He is blessed with a fantastic physique combined with strength, similar to that of Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke and has lightning acceleration. He can also hold the ball up well and has proved this season that he has an end product too. After missing the best part of two and a half years through injury, Sanogo has bagged nine goals in eleven games for Auxerre this year. When he is fit, Sanago has proven to be a force to be reckoned with but the signing would be a massive risk due to his injury record.

Although he is not a superstar, he has the potential to be one which as we know is Arsene Wenger’s preferred method of business. He prefers developing and making superstars rather than buying ready-made superstars. Wenger is one of the best around when it comes to nurturing young talent and there would be no need to rush Sanogo into the first team. However, there is reason for fans to be sceptical as they have seen first-hand what can go wrong with this kind of deal. Look at Abou Diaby, he was signed from Auxerre in 2006 and has only made over 20 appearances in a season twice since joining.

So, whether the fans will warm to the purchase of Sanogo remains to be seen as they have been calling for household names such as Wayne Rooney and David Villa to be signed in the summer not more youth. He most definitely has the talent but whether he shake off his injury problems and be a success at Arsenal remains to be seen.