Why Arsenal wanting to sign Marseille's Igor Paixao is a risk but an understandable one

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trossard-leandro/xUAbnjp2/"]Leandro Trossard[/a] has already moved on to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/besiktas/IDmErJCR/"]Besiktas[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinelli/dITe5M88/"]Gabriel Martinelli[/a] seems to be closing in on a move to Saudi Pro League outfit, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-hilal-al-nassr-stars/niRHD73J/"]Al Hilal[/a].[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Arteta[/a] struggling to land a left winger for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a][/h2][p]However, to this point, Mikel Arteta has seen targets such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] move to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] stay at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Bradley Barcola[/a] seemingly choosing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] over the Gunners, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] move to Arsenal's London rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a].[/p][p]Not to mention that there has been no progress with any deals for the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/williams-nico/Cp7lcVjJ/"]Nico Williams[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndiaye-iliman/Im0c6Oy7/"]Iliman Ndiaye[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbaye-ibrahim/nkxtcGo7/"]Ibrahim Mbaye[/a].[/p][embed guid="13caa446-db55-401a-b8da-bb7d81d58e02" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2092507338053976254" social-type="twitter" /][p]With only a few days left in which to shore up that side of their attack, their options are becoming more and more limited.[/p][p]It's understood that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/marseille/SblU3Hee/"]Marseille[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paixao-igor/EuBBEVVq/"]Igor Paixao[/a] is another target that Arteta is looking at, though he too may not be easy to prise from the Ligue 1 outfit, given that they've already turned down two bids for the player from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a].[/p][h2]Genesio could leave Marseille if Igor Paixao is sold[/h2][p]Furthermore, OM manager Bruno Genesio has suggested that he will consider his own position if the board of the club accede to any approaches from other clubs for the player.[/p][p]At 26 years of age, Paixao is coming into what would be considered a player's prime footballing years, and that, along with his 19 goal contributions (12G, 7A) in 43 games for Marseille, makes it easy to understand why Arsenal would be running the rule over him.[/p][embed guid="31f9a2cc-29ed-4172-a6c1-36142d956e36" url="https://x.com/OM_Officiel/status/2088347626785636595" social-type="twitter" /][p]Given how sharp Martinelli has been down the Gunners' left, the fact that Paixao made 14 fast breaks in all competitions for Marseille in 2025/26 - more than any of his teammates - would indicate that Arteta can swap the pace of one young Brazilian for another.[/p][p]Paixao's shot accuracy in Ligue 1 of 50% is an excellent return for a wide man, though his shot conversion of just 10.53% could do with an uplift.[/p][h2]Output almost equal in many aspects[/h2][p]Many of his metrics are almost equal, and depending on whether one is a glass half full or half empty person, they will see that as either a positive or a negative.[/p][p]For example, of the 11 big chances he created, five were on target, and six were off target. Of the nine headers he attempted throughout the season, four were on target, and five were off target. With 67 total shots also taken in the campaign, 34 were on target, and 33 were off target.[/p][image alt="Igor Paixao's Ligue 1 season numbers for 2025/26" id="bce598de-082f-436a-a95a-e7b5840680e1" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="be7f4925-1f49-4949-80dd-5a6578f5335d" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]Such small margins.[/p][p]In terms of his passing range, that was also more than adequate, given that it was never any lower than 76.92%, and even went as high as 87.5% in the French Champions Trophy. For those passes in Paixao's own half only, his percentage went even higher (89.16%) - music to Arteta's ears.[/p][p]Another area requiring a fairly drastic improvement is with the player's crossing ability, or more accurately, lack of it.[/p][image alt="Igor Paixao's career league stats" id="05466771-7c79-41f0-abb5-1081bf589655" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="ecc485c9-fc97-46bc-b266-31023a3f540f" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]Paixao attempted 66 crosses in all competitions during 25/26 but only managed to complete six of them successfully. If we add corners into the mix, a total of 81 balls into the box saw 71 not find their target.[/p][p]Whilst his pace is clearly going to get him past his covering defender more often than not, if he has no end product, then his speed is of no real benefit, and it's clear that corner taking isn't really his forte either.[/p][h2]Physicality required[/h2][p]At least he has shone in terms of his work ethic, and 115 ball recoveries is a great stat. What a shame then, that he won just 148 of 337 one-on-one duels attempted, and only 28 of 70 headed duels attempted.[/p][p]The more physical Premier League really does sort the men out from the boys in terms of their attributes in this regard, and if a player isn't prepared to rough it with the best of them, their EPL experience can often be totally different to what they expected as a result.[/p][image alt="Igor Paixao's recent player ratings" id="23d5d62b-822c-4183-924a-5cdb0fdfe3a8" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="15d8ab22-6250-4fa3-89a3-8597218b515f" original-width="2160" original-height="2702" /][p]Although he attempted only 36 tackles throughout the season, winning 16, it's debatable as to just how involved a winger needs to be unless there's a chance of their team losing the ball.[/p][p]With Arteta certainly improving a number of players who have joined the club since the Spaniard returned to North London, there is a successful blueprint that Paixao can follow if the Gunners' board are able to persuade their French counterparts to play ball in the last few days of the window.[/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]