Ayyoub Bouaddi: Why Arsenal want World Cup star who could be as big as Kylian Mbappe | OneFootball

Gunners must win race for top talent who is wanted by several of Europe’s biggest clubs

It took just 71 seconds for Morocco to open the scoring against Scotland at the World Cup. It is no surprise that Arsenal transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi played a role in the move.

It proved to be the winning goal and Bouaddi’s part in creating it underscored his obvious qualities and potential.

Some of Europe’s biggest clubs are desperate to sign Bouaddi this summer. Arsenal have already made contact with Lille for the teenager, valued at £70million, as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s midfield options ahead of their Premier League title defence.

So what is all the fuss about? Bouaddi caught the eye of the elite in a breakout season for Lille, during which he made 42 appearances, and his performance in Morocco’s draw with Brazil last week left little doubt as to why the Gunners are so keen to sign him.

Bouaddi was making just his third senior appearance in a Morocco shirt when he lined up against Carlo Ancelotti’s Selecao, having only switched his international allegiance from France in May, but put in a fearless performance on football’s biggest stage.

All-action midfielder: Ayyoub Bouaddi was more understated against Scotland, but still impressed

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All his finest qualities were on show at MetLife Stadium. He has a penchant for a crunching tackle, a tireless engine - he covered nearly 12km against Brazil in 29-degree conditions - and the awareness to pick an accurate pass under pressure.

A tally of 60 completed passes from 87 touches against Brazil speaks to an impressive efficiency on the ball, which belies his young years.

He is unafraid to race forward with driving dribbles, though Olivier Giroud has revealed that he still gets teased in the Lille dressing room for his wayward finishing.

Facing Scotland in Boston on Friday evening, Bouaddi was, by his own standards, muted. But for this, there was a very good reason. Steve Clarke set up his side with the primary aim of neutralising him.

“Bouaddi caught everyone’s attention in the first game (vs Brazil),” Clarke said pre-match. “Our task now is to make sure he does not attract the same attention in the second match.”

That manifested against Morocco in a five-man midfield, featuring McTominay, John McGinn and Lewis Ferguson, with Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie also dropping in. Bouaddi was being closely marked at all times.

It is plain to see why Arsenal want to sign Bouaddi

It is no surprise, then, that his influence was somewhat diminished. He recorded fewer touches, fewer tackles and fewer recoveries.

And yet, Morocco’s midfield metronome was still able to show flashes of his quality. His one-touch passing was vital to working around Scotland’s press.

His defensive contributions were few and far between, but vital - he dispossessed Ben Gannon-Doak late on to set Morocco off on the counter-attack.

It is plain to see why Arsenal are keen. Martin Zubimendi was left exhausted by this season’s gruelling match schedule, and Bouaddi, nine years the Spaniard’s junior, seems a perfectly capable alternative.

And the youngster has plenty of room to continue growing - Giroud believes his ceiling is as high as Kylian Mbappe’s.

That is big billing to live up to, particularly for a player who has yet to score a senior goal, but the impression he has made in Ligue 1 and his performances this summer suggests it is not unreasonable.

The World Cup has not fazed him one bit. Mature beyond his years, Bouaddi will prove an astute investment for whichever club manages to win him over.