Bissouma has been asked to do a specific role at Brighton. He is fully capable of having an influence further up the pitch. He literally can do everything to a high level. Pass with either foot, tackle, dribble and shoot.
It is really strange as Arteta likes players who can perform different roles. Bissouma allows you to do so many things in game.
This is before Brighton. You wouldn't look at that and think yeah Inam going to hold him back and not let him advance past the half way line. He is an 8 and a very capable one.
I've said it before. What we are doing in pre season is oishing 6 up at times. Leaving a box of four. You can do that in the league with Bissouma. You can't do that unless Lokonga and Partey play together.
All I would say @MutableEarth is that we probably did want a player in the Bissouma role and went for Lokonga due to funds and leadership ability. I think he will have a bigger part to play than people think and may even start he season alongside Partey.
Very nice, and his stats looked OK in comparison with Guimarães (almost equal I could say), but pay attention to some underlying numbers.
They played almost half of the minutes in Ligue 1, Guimarães last season and Bissouma in 17/18.
When Bissouma was on the pitch for Lille, Lille averaged 1.07 expected goals for and 1.69 against, his expectative on-off value was negative 0.22 and his real on-off was negative 0.97.
While when Guimarães was on the pitch for Lyon, Lyon averaged 2.44 expected goals for and 0.97 against, with expectative on-off value of positive 0.77, his real impact was positive 0.79.
Player Comparison: Yves Bissouma vs. Bruno Guimarães | FBref.com
Player Comparison: Yves Bissouma vs. Bruno Guimarães
fbref.com
On-Off Plus-Minus value of Bissouma is usually negative in most of the seasons: Yves Bissouma Stats | FBref.com
While Plus-Minues value of Guimarães is usually positive: Bruno Guimarães Stats | FBref.com
Why these numbers if Bissouma is more athletic and look visually better on the eye test too? Imo because decision making and off the ball movement are way more important than people think.
That appers here in Macro Football too, Bissouma had negative 3.53 isolated impact with more or less the same minutes of Guimarães while Bruno had positive 9.56.
Not Jorginho-like, but still pretty good numbers with some potential to improve.