Scouting Report: Is Jordan Ayew Arsenal's Loic Remy Transfer Alternative?
Could Marseille's Ghanaian international Jordan Ayew—a 22-year-old, 6'0", 176-pound forward—be Arsenal's summer transfer window alternative to Queens Park Rangers centre-forward Loic Remy?
Remy is "keen to move this summer to a [UEFA] Champions League club," per Jeremy Wilson at the Telegraph, so he is open to a move to Arsenal and other clubs.
The "other clubs" part is where Arsenal may lose out on Remy.
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To cover a hypothetical of Ayew being targeted by Arsenal as a Remy alternative, here is a scouting report.
Ayew's Disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup
Ghana manager James Kwesi placed the onus on Ayew to step up, giving him chances in a deep-lying forward role behind Ghana centre-forward Asamoah Gyan.
Ayew was wasteful: He did not convert any of his scoring chances, per Squawka.com, and he failed to score or create a goal in 116 minutes, per FIFA.com.
Gyan was willing to feed Ayew, who refused to reciprocate.
Ayew shoots for the stars because he sees the headline-grabbing moment of scoring.
Gyan is the No. 9. Therefore, if he is free—like against Germany—pass the ball to him. Ayew needs to get into this mindset that an assist has the same value as a goal for the team.
Even his apology was a cop-out.
"After making that long solo run [against Germany] I was so tired when I got to the goal area," Ayew said, per Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo at Graphic Online. "I didn't make any mistake, but when they told me I made a mistake, I accepted it and apologised to the team."
Ayew's flagrantly selfish attitude was just one example of the disharmony in the Ghanaian squad.
While Ayew's failure was conspicuous, the Ghana national team was dissent-filled and disorganised.
Ayew Positives
Sharing former Arsenal player Nicklas Bendtner's irrational confidence, Ayew wants to rule the box.
Ayew excels when he feels valued.
Then-Sochaux manager Herve Renard, a proponent of harnessing African talent, gave Ayew the boost he needed during his loan spell.
"I had a good season with [Sochaux]," Ayew said, per FIFA.com. "The playing time and the confidence of the coach [Renard] made my season that successful."
Headed goals against Bastia, Nice and Toulouse show that Ayew has a goal-sneaking ability that's reminiscent of Tim Cahill.
By zipping in behind Rennes centre-back John Boye and powerfully striking the ball past Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil, Ayew demonstrated he has the potential to be a more all-around scorer.
Ayew possesses a quick first step, like manufacturing a shot to counter tight marking from Lyon centre-back Samuel Umtiti.
Ayew Negatives
Though he is only 22 years of age, Ayew has been playing top-flight football since the 2009-10 season, yet he has never scored 10 Ligue 1 goals or more in a campaign.
Without a manager like Renard to guide Ayew, he will revert back to old ways of breezing through games, which is why his development has stagnated.
The cynical way Ayew conducts himself on the field is a red flag.
- World Cup performances showed Ayew's blatant disregard for his teammates.
- Two minutes after then-Sochaux teammate Edouard Butin scored, Ayew relinquished his team's momentum by lashing out at Monaco substitute Andrea Raggi.
- Ayew took one minute and 51 seconds to receive two yellow cards against Evian Thonon Gaillard.
Bottom Line
| League Only | Jordan Ayew 2013-14 | Loic Remy 2012-13 |
| Games | 33 | 14 |
| Goals | 6 | 1 |
| Shots Per Goal | 9.5 | 17 |
Remy went from a fallen star to one of the Premier League's most lethal strikers, scoring 14 league goals on loan at Newcastle United last season.
Ayew's statistics are not impressive, but his numbers look drastically different if you only take into account his loan at Sochaux.
| League Only | Jordan Ayew Sochaux 2013-14 | Loic Remy 2012-13 |
| Games | 17 | 14 |
| Goals | 5 | 1 |
| Shots Per Goal | 6.8 | 17 |
If Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger cannot reach an agreement with Queens Park Rangers over Remy, Ayew should be on the long list of possible alternatives.
Statistics via WhoScored.com
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