Arsenal transfer target Cristian Pavon could become the club's next Andrey Arshavin

By Tom Procter

Arsenal are lining up a £40 million move for Boca Juniors star Cristian Pavon in January.

That’s according to The Sun, who claim contact has already been made between the north London giants and the Argentine outfit.

Apparently Unai Emery is a big fan of the winger, who has caught the eye since bursting onto the scene in 2014 with his mazy dribbling and speed.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

Fulham are also credited with an interest in him in the report, meaning they might not have it all their own way in January, with the Cottagers in desperate need of someone to inspire them to safety.

Arsenal will feel they’ll be able to outbid Fulham, but Claudio Ranieri would surely be able to offer more game time.

If the player did sign for Arsenal though, then he could well become a new version of Andrey Arshavin.

The similarities are there

Pavon is definitely reminiscent of former Gunner Arshavin in a number of ways.

The pair are physically similar; Pavon stands at 5ft 7in, while Arshavin is a touch taller at 5ft 8in.

(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

They both prefer to operate from the left wing, and Pavon often cuts inside being right-footed, just as Arshavin used to.

Arshavin spent four full seasons at the Emirates Stadium between 2008-13, although he went back to Zenit Saint Petersburg for the second half of the 2011/12 campaign, before leaving permanently that summer.

His best form deserted him in his final couple of years at the club, but there can be no denying how explosive and dangerous he was when he first signed for Arsenal.

(Photo by Gustavo Garello/Jam Media/Getty Images)

He was undoubtedly one of the most dangerous dribblers in the Premier League at his peak, and the four goals he scored in one Premier League game against Liverpool was particularly memorable.

Pavon has the potential to become just like peak Arshavin and perhaps even surpass him under the guidance of Emery.