Romano confirms interest in star perfect for Arsenal after historic game

Borussia Dortmund right-back Julian Ryerson is attracting high-profile attention, and Arsenal should be among his suitors.

At 28, the Norway international is enjoying by far the best season of his career. Ryerson has recorded a whopping 13 assists from his wing-back position this term, and he produced a historic performance on Friday.

Dortmund put on a set-piece clinic against a resurgent Mainz side, running out 4-0 victors. It was Ryerson’s delivery from dead-ball situations that caused havoc in the opponents’ box.

He set up every single goal and, according to Opta, became only the fourth Bundesliga player to record four assists in a game since detailed data collection began in the 2004/05 season. He also became the first Dortmund player to set up three goals in the first half of a Bundesliga match.

In light of his performance, Fabrizio Romano has revealed that “European top clubs” are monitoring the full-back. This is unsurprising. In January, credible reports emerged that Barcelona were looking at him as a potentially cost-effective back-up for Jules Kounde. They ended up signing Joao Cancelo on loan from Al-Hilal instead.

Ryerson a good option for Arsenal?

Playing in a wing-back role, Ryerson is showing a completely different side to his game this term. Previously, he was generally known as a defensively solid, tenacious full-back who did not offer much going forward. He had never before recorded more than four assists in a season.

This has completely changed now. He is quickly becoming one of the best crossers in the Bundesliga, while not compromising on his defensive responsibilities. This well-roundedness will stand him in good stead going forward.

According to data analytics firm SciSports, Ryerson would not look out of place at an elite European side. SciSports analyses various factors, such as playing time, play style and development opportunities, to calculate a player’s Club Fit score.

For Ryerson, Juventus are viewed as his best fit with a ranking of 81, followed by Barcelona and Aston Villa with 78. Intriguingly, Arsenal are next with a good score of 76. SciSports believes that Ryerson is an ideal stylistic fit for Mikel Arteta’s side.

With Ben White facing an uncertain future, Ryerson could be the perfect replacement in the summer. His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €22.6 million means that he would be a fairly affordable signing, too.

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