Who is Jorrel Hato? The teenage Ajax star linked with Arsenal

 

Last January, Arsenal made their move to sign a young left-footed centre-back. Jakub Kiwior wasn't a household name when reports of a winter switch to the Emirates started doing the rounds as Mikel Arteta sought to secure the services of a defender who had caught the eye for Spezia. The 23-year-old hasn't exactly pulled up any trees following his move to Arsenal but he is a handy squad player on the books. 

 

Could it be that the Gunners make another splash next month? A striker seems to be the priority for Arsenal when the transfer window opens in a couple of days' time. Arteta's side missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat to London rivals West Ham with poor finishing proving costly. Indeed, Arsenal managed 77 touches in the West Ham box on Thursday night, a record in a Premier League match this season, with nothing by a blank to show for their efforts. 

 

However with injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber, they have been exploring their defensive options amidst rumours of another raid of Ajax. Jorrel Hato wrote his name into the history books earlier this year, becoming their youngest ever captain in a European game at the tender age of 17. To put into context just how young Hato is, the defender was born less than two months after High School Musical was released. 

 

In what has been a fairly disappointing season for Ajax, Hato has been a bright spot and his performances for the Dutch powerhouse have not gone unnoticed. The teenager ticks all the boxes of a modern-day centre-back. Arguably his best quality is his ability to pick out a teammate. This shouldn't come as a surprise given his upbringing in Amsterdam with Ajax producing a number of ball-playing defenders, notably Matthijs de Ligt and the aforementioned Timber in recent years. 

 

Despite a season of transition, Ajax still boast the third best possession average (60.3%) and the second best pass success rate (85.3%) in the Dutch top tier. The centre-backs are comfortable in possession as the Dutch powerhouse seek to dominate opponents and key are defenders who are able to instigate attacks from defence. Hato has taken on the demands to play the 'Ajax' way with ease, ranking second for passes per game (81.6) and yielding the third best pass success rate (91.3%) in the Eredivisie. 

 

 

The skillset is similar to that of Timber but his long-term knee injury sustained on the opening weekend of the Premier League has changed Arsenal's defensive landscape and perhaps tinkered their January plans. Hato, like Timber, is also a versatile operator, which, as Arsenal fans will atest to, is a quality Arteta values highly. 

 

Already capped for the Netherlands, too, this is a testament to how highly Hato is rated at both club and international level. Much of that is not only an ability to pick out a teammate with ease but his work out of possession too. Even with Ajax seeking to dominate games, Hato has still put up respectable averages of 2.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 in the Eredivisie this season. 

 

The issue will be whether Ajax are prepared to do business with Arsenal for Hato in the New Year. Even with 18 months left to run on his current deal, the Eredivisie powerhouse won't allow the 17-year-old to leave on the cheap next month especially after they started to climb the table following John van 't Schip's return to the club in October. 

 

In addition, is he really the type of defender Arsenal need right now? Yes, it's always important to look to the future and Hato's is as bright as they come, but with another title charge on the cards, experience is perhaps a more viable commodity in January. Not only did Kiwior arrive at the Emirates last month but so too did Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, two Premier League experienced players who were vital in Arsenal's ultimately doomed title push. 

 

Furthermore, Arsenal are well covered on the left side of defence, it's on the right where cover is found wanting. Tomiyasu is a solid stand-in for Ben White at right-back but his injury issues means he cannot be relied upon as first-choice backup. With Cedric Soares also expected to leave in the New Year, Arsenal may be a little light on this side of defence in the business end of the campaign unless they dip into the market to strengthen at the back. 

 

That's not to say Arsenal shouldn't keep tabs on Hato. It's clear he is on the right path to realising his immense potential but with the January market often tricky to complete high-profile deals, the priority should remain a striker.

Who is Jorrel Hato? The teenage Ajax star linked with Arsenal