He may be cited as the next Donkey (that is, Ruud van Nistelrooi, yeugh), but he certainly wins the local Alex Hleb lookalike competition. Huntelaar is the name on many lips right now – cited for his supreme finishing ability and acrobatic skills – 21 goals in the Dutch league in the season just past, and 4 in the cup. Not bad at all, laddie. Plenty on Youtube to digest, if you’re interested – the word that first comes to mind for me are ‘sharp’ – his finishing is really sublime. Did I mention the finishing?
Not chosen in the Dutch squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he was left to prove Marco van Basten wrong by top scoring for Holland in the U/21 UEFA championships. Compliment this with a sublime domestic scoring record – 37 goals in 48 Ajax games – and the lips are being licked quite copiously world wide. Of course, many Dutch strikers / Dutch-league recruits have struggled to adapt to the English league. But the record’s a good start, surely.
RUMOUR ANALYSIS
Clubs interested: Arsenal
Possible destinations: Ajax, Arsenal
Pros: For the millionth time: An incredible finisher, zippy forward, excellent scoring record.
Cons: No sources seem sure of the cost, would he adapt to the Premier League?
Rating: 7/10 – A plausible entry on any shopping-lists Wenger might have. The potential is all there, and he scored the first goal at the Emirates Stadium, remember. ‘Potential’ is all we seem to hear about these days, though.
- Huntelaar and Arsenal in the News:
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