Having burst onto the scene out of nowhere, Thomas Lemar is now being chased by several of Europe’s top clubs with Spurs and the Gunners leading the race. While Kylian Mbappe’s rise to stardom at Monaco has drawn most attention, Lemar has been gradually gaining his own plaudits as Mbappe’s right-hand man with outstanding performances in the Champions League. Few football fans know a lot about the Monaco midfielder, who has only been playing for the French champions since 2015, so here some things you should know about him.
Style of play
Lemar has the ability to play in a number of positions, having being deployed on the left wing of a 4-2-2-2 formation for Monaco and in left midfield in France’s 4-2-3-1 but some would argue that he is an out-and-out winger.
He can play that role due to his speed and ability with the ball, especially in delivering killer passes in to the box, however he is more suited to a free role in and around the left side of the pitch. At Monaco he has been allowed to play closer to the strikers and almost in a number ten position but his turn of pace is much more impressive than that of a regular attacking midfielder. While most attacking midfielders tend to be pass-masters rather than speed demons this young Frenchman can certainly play a deadly pass but he is more suited to beating a man and delivering balls into dangerous areas.
Although his calmness on the ball means he could easily cope with being dropped into a role closer to the striker, I believe his long-term success will come in wide areas. Aside from positioning, the Monaco youngster is a set-piece specialist, which is a dying art in the modern game. The likes of Lionel Messi can bend a ball into the top corner but you don’t see him provide many goals from free kicks or corners. That is Lemar’s specialty – with one cross, he can kill a whole team’s defensive strategies.
Many 21-year-old footballers lack tactical nous and often find themselves caught in positions they shouldn’t be. For a striker that may be standing in an offside area, and for a winger it can mean being too far up the pitch when his team are defending. Lemar, on the other hand, has proven this season that his footballing brain is one of his greatest assets.
Several young players with immense talent disappear in tougher games but Lemar’s record in the Champions League, with two goals and four assists in just nine appearances, proves he can handle pressure and make himself known in big games. Some English fans may have only seen him play a handful of times but his performance in the recent friendly against England summed up everything there is to know about him; he is powerful, quick and lethal in dangerous areas.
Who is signing him?
With Barcelona being linked to Lemar’s name, you would have assumed he would be heading to the Catalan giants but rumours suggest he’s keen for Spurs and would fit in well there, other whispers suggest that Arsene Wenger is trying to convince him to sign for Arsenal. That could turn out to be a great move. The Gunners manager is known for his careful development of young players and the two Frenchmen could make a great partnership for the coming season.
Fun Fact
Lemar idolises Andres Iniesta but admitted once that he’s turned down several chances to meet him, explaining that a friend once told him that idols are always a disappointment when you get to know them.
by Nubaid Haroon
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
The post Football: Who’s Picking Up Thomas Lemar? appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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