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Should Arsenal really chase this £24m Serie A prodigy?

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Keita Balde Diao (Lazio)Arsenal haven’t had a good start to the season, but I think it’s fair to say that their attack is significantly more effective than it used to be. Back when Olivier Giroud was their first choice striker, they were a slower, more considered unit.

Now that they’ve got players like Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain (and the returning Theo Walcott) running the show, they’re a lot faster, they get in behind more often and they carry a little more threat.

Arsene Wenger’s main issue is his defense, which is short on both options and quality. At the moment, they’ve got an inexperienced 19-year-old playing in the right-back position and a left-back playing in the centre-back position. It’s not a great situation and Arsenal have been suffering as a result.

With this in mind, I was a little surprised to see The Express link Arsenal with a move for a 19-year-old striker. Has Arsene Wenger got his priorities all wrong?

Perhaps so, but it’s hard not to get excited. The youngster in question is former Barcelona star, Keita Balde Diao. He now plays his football for Lazio, where he’s been making a few waves and attracting a fair amount of attention.

In 23 appearances for the Serie A side, Keita has found the back of the net 5 times. That’s nothing to get overly excited about, but given his age, it’s a good sign. He doesn’t get the kind of game-time that his more experienced team-mates are accustomed to, but he’s still managed to find the back of the net on the odd occasion.

He’s also pacey, smart and technically gifted. In many respects, he’s your typical Arsenal player. He just doesn’t seem to know it yet.

The aforementioned source claims that Lazio are prepared to entertain bids for Keita of around £24m.

That’s a huge amount of money for a young player, but Arsene Wenger has shown a willingness to spend big in recent years. Perhaps he’ll be tempted by this Senegalese forward?

That remains to be seen. Let’s just hope that he also happens to have his eyes trained on a few defenders.

What’s your take? Should The Gunners really be interested in this 19-year-old prodigy? Should Arsene Wenger have other priorities?

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