If you read the papers, or even if you don’t, you should be aware that Arsenal are at varying degrees of closeness to a deal for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.

The Montenegrin forward will either be joining imminently or waiting for Arsenal’s Champions League status to be decided.

There’s a lot of excitement over this transfer, but there are a few question marks over his abilities. Is he the world-class forward Arsenal need?

Let’s find out

I consulted my good friend WhoScored about Stevan. I asked him a few questions over coffee, after a little romantic rendezvous. Here’s how it went:

So, baby...Tell me about Stevan.

Stevan? He’s dreamy...

Not as handsome as me, surely?

Of course not, of course not...What do you need to know?

Were Arsenal to make an...approach for his services, would they be satisfied? The fans are crying out for a Van Persie replacement.

Well, they’d get that. Eventually...

Eventually? He’s been successful as a centre-forward this season, no?

Well, he’s scored 12 times and provided 4 assists, in the 28 games he’s played there, yes.

That’s not great...I mean, Olivier Giroud’s got dogs abuse this season, and he’s got 17 and 11...

Well, that’s true. What’s more, Stevan hasn’t scored for 7 games.

7 games without getting any? That’s cold.

He’s not been up to it lately. He’s seemed distracted..his consistency was always an issue.

So it wouldn’t be an instant success?

Well, he’d make their attack more fluid, certainly. Give more problems to the defenders than Giroud. I’m a big fan of that French lothario, but he’s rather static. Podolski and Walcott have to play as proper wide men, which isn’t their game.

And Jovetic would enable that?

Yes. According to my data, he’s prone to dribbling and cutting inside. He likes to build from deep, which Giroud can’t do. Podolski and Walcott would have a lot more fun, though they’d have to be much more intelligent off the ball.

I see..Well, that’s interesting stuff. What’s his average rating?

Over his 30 games this season, he’s averaged 7.49. It’s been much better, but he’s been fairly average over the last 7 or so games. I think the links away have turned his head. He definitely wants to leave, though whether he gets his wish is another question.

Are you sure he’s not just tired, or burned out? Can’t maintain it over a season?

That’s always possible, and you can’t play brilliantly every game. But I think Jovetic certainly has it in him to be a success. He won’t be brilliant instantly, and he can be prone to disappearing or getting isolated within games, but he’d be an excellent signing.

An excellent goalscorer?

He’s no Cavani. Give him a few years and he can give you 30 in a season, but right now it’ll be more like 15, maybe 20. Patience is required.

I’ve got a question, WhoScored. How are you capable of such opinions, considering you’re but a website?

I’m adaptable. As will you be, when you join the Collective.

Now?

Later. Anyway, anything else?

No, that’s all thank you. Goodbye.

So, that’s what I learned about Stevan Jovetic. Whether he joins remains to be seen, but that’s what you can expect.

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