Arsenal yesterday announced the signing of Chu Young Park from AS Monaco for a fee in the region of £3m.
The two-year deal has caused much controversy back in France- twenty-six year old Park was on the verge of a switch to champions Lille at the weekend but a last-minute change of mind means he will now join up at the Emirates, subject to a formal registration process.
The Statistics
His performances for South Korea U20 team saw Park named Asian Young Player of 2004 and his professional club career began the following season with a stint at FC Seoul in South Korea’s K League. He played three full campaigns there, making 96 appearances in all competitions and returned 35 goals and 10 assists, though a foot injury and loss of form hampered much of his latter time.
Park then moved to AS Monaco in September of the 2008-09 campaign. The forward spent three injury-free seasons in Ligue 1, playing 103 games in all competitions for Monaco, scoring 26 goals and picking up 8 assists.
The Prospects
Arsène Wenger was happy with the capture, saying yesterday:
“We are delighted to have signed Chu. He will add true quality to our attacking forces and will be a valuable addition to the squad.”
Similar to new signing Gervinho, Park will bring versatility to the Gunners front line. He can play on either flank or through the middle, has both pace and height (he’s 6 foot) and, as ever with Wenger’s forward men, is
technically very gifted .
With Arsenal going through a tumultuous period of transition, it’s too early to second-guess Park’s chances of a first-team place in the attacking midfield positions. Certainly, he’s by no means a nailed-on starter but at present, aside from maybe Theo Walcott down the right, are there any real certainties in those three slots behind Robin Van Persie? Gervinho has played just one league game and could, upon return from suspension, make the left wing his own, though Park looks just as capable.
Where the South Korean differs from the likes of Andrei Arshavin and the outgoing Nicklas Bendtner, however, is in work-rate; in this respect, he is not dissimilar to compatriot Ji-Sung Park at Man United and his dynamism and willingness for the battle will offer the Gunners more bite in the vital attacking third. Whether he’ll get the chance, only time will tell.
