Arsenal: The 'new Verratti' has Merino Vibes... but Here's WHY He's Not Ready for the Premier League Yet

By Alessandro Schiavone

No wonder Arsenal have temporarily cooled their interest in Dutch whizkid Kees Smit and instead gone all-out for proven Premier League estrella Bruno Guimaraes.

The Gunners saw their opening bid for the Newcastle star knocked back today, but should they eventually be forced to explore back-up options, Smit's name is unlikely to shoot back to the top of Mikel Arteta's shortlist any time soon.

The AZ Alkmaar prodigy has been admired in north London for months and it was reported in spring that the club had a keen an interest in the 2006-born ace.

Technically, it's easy to understand why. But after watching his 30-minute cameo in AZ's emphatic 4-0 Johan Cruijff Schaal victory over PSV Eindhoven, it also became obvious why Arsenal are in no rush.

Not because Smith suddenly looked like a poor player. Far from it. But it seems that the rumours of Barcelona and Arsenal’s interest have turned into fear, which is inhibiting him. Sometimes he wants to show too much which have the knock-on effect of him showing little. And is he struggling to deal with the increased expectations that come with your name being bandied about in the English and Spanish media?

The 20-year-old still oozes class, but he also looked a player who remains a little undercooked for the relentless intensity of Premier League football, both physically and mentally.

Ironically, the numbers paint a very different picture.

According to FotMob, Smit registered 62 touches, completed 91 per cent of his passes, won three tackles, made seven ball recoveries and looked cool, calm and collected as ever whenever he received possession.

Yet statistics don't always tell the full story.

Initially left out after reportedly "not feeling 100 per cent fit", Smit entered the contest just after the hour mark with AZ already cruising at 3-0.

Nominally replacing Mexx Meerdink, the midfielder spent much of his cameo operating as a false nine rather than in his natural central midfield role.

And that's where another intriguing part of his game emerged.

Instead of pinning himself between PSV's centre-backs, Smit constantly drifted into pockets, dropped towards midfield and floated across the pitch looking to connect attacks. Whenever AZ worked the ball into wide areas, he instinctively attacked the penalty area like an old-fashioned striker.

There were flashes of Mikel Merino everywhere.

His intelligence between the lines remains one of his biggest strengths. He's always showing for the ball and has the ability to progress possession both through passing and carrying.

That ability to receive under pressure and escape a press is exactly why comparisons with Marco Verratti continue to follow him around. 

Whether through crisp passing or elegant ball carrying, Smit caught the eye in the past for an uncanny knack for progressing attacks.

Loose first touches and heavy passes are almost non-existent in his game, while his willingness to roam free remind us of ex-Italian midfield maestro Verratti.

The talent is undeniable and so is the ceiling.

Transfermarkt currently values him at around €25 million, and he already has a senior Netherlands cap after making his international debut earlier this year.

But there's a reason Ronald Koeman left him out of his World Cup squad this summer.

He's simply not the finished article yet and the fact he was chasing shadows in an attacking sense yesterday should probably give observers some food for thought. He needs to add strength to cope with powerful midfielders who won't let him turn and pull away as easily as in the Eredivisie. And decisions have to be made much quicker in England. On some occasions Smit still procrastinated when he had the ball. That will be seized upon across the Channel.

And the Gunners need midfielders who can pack the box, not only through their mere presence but in an aggressive way. And yesterday, the prodigy looked some way off.

If Smit isn't quite ready to become a regular for Oranje, it's difficult to argue he's ready to walk into one of the Premier League's most competitive sides.

At Arsenal, he'd likely occupy a role similar to Christian Nørgaard's: he'd make up the numbers.

And how could it be any different with Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi and potentially Bruno all ahead of him in the pecking order.

And there's still the big question: will he eventually become the next Frenkie de Jong?

Or will he follow a more Jordy Clasie-like downwars spiral?

In other words, will he turn into a Dutch superstar or will his dreams of a top-level career fizzle out?

The raw ingredients are there for Smit to evolve into a midfielder who blends Verratti's press resistance with Merino's tactical intelligence, movement and eye for goal as his seven strikes in 77 appearances for the club reflect.

But that version of Kees Smit is still a work in progress.

He has two years left on his deal and a Dutch reporter, which we cannot name to protect relations, told the outlet that he did 'not have a good season' last term and isn't 'even Alkmaar's best player'. 

Hence he could do with another season or two in Holland.

Which is exactly why Arsenal should make an improved bid and get Bruno through the door as the Brazilian is as sure a bet as it gets.

And once Merino decides to return to Spain, they already know who to turn to — provided that he turns into what we all expect him to be and shows the signs of recovery his own fans have been waiting for for some time now.