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Arsenal and Manchester United could make huge mistake by signing Watford’s Odion Ighalo

By Rucker Haringey

WATFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Referee Andre Marriner talks to Odion Ighalo of Watford during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Newcastle United at Vicarage Road on January 23, 2016 in Watford, England (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Referee Andre Marriner talks to Odion Ighalo of Watford during the Barclays Premier League match between Watford and Newcastle United at Vicarage Road on January 23, 2016 in Watford, England (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal and Manchester United should re-think their interest in Watford striker Odion Ighalo

Watford striker Odion Ighalo was on fire when the Premier League season began. He played well enough to attract serious transfer interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United. The only trouble is that his form has fallen off a cliff as of late for the Hornets.

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Earlier this season, it was easy for anyone who watched Watford to get enamored with the Nigerian striker’s game. His rare combination of brute force and surprising skill with the ball had him pouring in goals for his club. He played well enough to post 14 goals and 3 assists as Watford outperformed everyone’s expectations.

Scoring totals like that make it completely understandable that the biggest teams in the Premier League would begin to evaluate Ighalo. Squawka.com reports that Manchester United and Arsenal are set to do battle over his services in the summer. That could prove to be a costly mistake for the two elite clubs.

Ighalo’s form has left him quicker than a snowball melts in the summer. He’s been an utter disaster since Christmas. His dip in form should be sending off huge alarm bells for clubs interested in purchasing him this summer.

In the 12 Premier League matches Ighalo has played after Christmas, he’s posted a Whoscored.com player rating above 7 in exactly one match. He’s also mustered a whopping two goals and one assist. These aren’t the totals you want to see from a striker who will require a significant fee to acquire this summer.

Some might claim that opposing defenders have focused more energy on the bulky striker or that they’ve found out his game to a certain degree. That’s a challenge that all Premier League strikers face in their first season in England’s top flight. Most experience a temporary dip in form, but Ighalo’s struggles have passed the point of a blip on the radar. His struggles now qualify as an extended drop in form.

It’s certainly possible that he will figure things out and once again, become a top-line Premier League striker. Both United and Arsenal could definitely use a standout number nine, but Ighalo is a huge risk. With the transfer budgets available at those clubs, they should be focusing their efforts on buying a striker who can definitely lead their lines. Ighalo is simply too much of a risk for big clubs to assume.

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Arsenal and Manchester United seem determined to duel for Watford striker Odion Ighalo this summer. Winning that prize may ultimately make both clubs look like fools if he can’t shake the poor form that’s shackled him since the holidays.

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