In recent weeks, concrete reports have emerged linking Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga to Arsenal after enjoying a breakthrough season for the 2016 Premier League champions.

Monga, who became the second-youngest player to ever grace the Premier League at just 15 years and 271 days, is touted as a potential top class isolation weapon for the future.

Although he enjoyed an increasingly influential role at Leicester throughout the season, he was unable to help them prevent a catastrophic drop into League One.

Now, the Midlands outfit must liquidate premium assets to plug gaping revenue holes. For Arsenal, this presents a perfect market opportunity to pounce on a ready-made developmental profile with world-class ingredients.

Why Monga Fits Arsenal's Tactical Blueprint

The Gunners' wide dynamics under Mikel Arteta demand wingers who can systematically draw multiple defenders out of their positions to clear out internal half-spaces. 

Monga’s profile is almost entirely optimised for this brand of friction. According to FotMob, he averages 7.8 attempted take-ons per 90 minutes. 

This is an astonishingly high volume of direct confrontation for a teenager playing in senior squads. This shows he is willing to fearlessly attempt to beat his fullback from a standing start upon isolating him. 

However his 36 per cent success rate clearly leaves room for structural refinement, but the sheer willingness to force 1v1 duels creates chaos in low blocks.

The Versatility That Makes Monga So Valuable

Though predominantly right-footed, Monga’s recent output for England’s U18s and Leicester highlights a highly fluid tactical floor.

Left Wing: During their clash against Preston, he cut inside onto his right foot before finding the back of the net, as seen in his clinical near-post finish.

The Right Flank: Inverting off the right to slice into the bottom corner. Against Cyprus, he cut inside off the right and demonstrated his ability on both feet with a strike into the bottom corner. 

The Central Seam: Operating as a narrow second striker, breaking lines vertically to finish coolly in 1v1s. His goal against Greece came after he drifted inside off the right as England went very narrow. 

Monga worked as a second striker, breaking the Greece back line to receive a through ball from Alejandro Rodriguez and beat the keeper with a cool finish.

More Than A Dribbler: Monga's Creative Intelligence

Crucially, Monga is not just a mere dribbler. He is also capable of finding attackers with killer balls.

Recording three key passes immediately following a successful take-on proves that his cognitive processing speed matches his physical acceleration. He can make the correct decision once the defensive block has been compromised. And with more gametime, he will only get better with age.

Why Arsenal See Monga As A Long-Term Investment

Monga will turn 17 on July 10, the exact date his scholarship agreement can legally transition into a professional contract. 

Arsenal are working to ensure that signature happens at the Emirates. He is clearly a player that might need more time to develop, as is also seen in his defensive output.

Furthermore, his final ball delivery needs more polishing. But you cannot teach the raw ability to comfortably nutmeg senior veterans in first-team training or manipulate low-block angles at 16. 

In the high-stakes game of acquiring next-generation assets, Monga is the exact type of profile elite clubs gamble on.