Arsenal target Marco Asensio scored curling strike to take Spain to gold medal match against Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics
Spain reach the final
After a drab 0-0 in which Spain and Japan were locked with a level scoreline the tie went to extra time.
A game that appeared destined for penalties was suddenly sparked into life and jubilation for the Spanish players.
Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio, a player who’d seen criticism for not being as integral as he should have been, was given the ball in the box, he turned, swivelled and curled an amazing strike past the Japanese keeper.
Marco Asensio in the 115th minute for a spot in the gold medal match 🚀
(🎥: @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/EpWnYMB71p
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 3, 2021
Asensio didn’t start the match and was brought on later in the game to make a difference.
The Los Blancos dedicated account Managing Madrid described his quarter-final as a ‘quiet’ affair.
Only 35 total touches in the match, it was yet another quiet performance from Marco Asensio.
A much more explosive display in the semis and now an arguable starter for La Roja against Brazil in the final.
Arsenal linked with Asensio
Arsenal’s search for a creative midfielder this season has led them to the Real Madrid man.
TodoFichajes has said the Gunners are the team to have ‘shown the most interest’ and therefore lead the race.
According to the information we handle at TodoFichajes Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool have the former Mallorca player in their sights, with the team led by Mikel Arteta being the one that has shown the most interest. The Basque coach is in love with the game of the Balearic Islands and they hope to recover it for the cause in London.
Asensio can play as both a number 10 and in a wide playmaker role which Arteta liked using when Martin Odegaard combined with Emile Smith-Rowe.
Should Asensio come in, the most likely outcome would be the Englishman playing centrally and Asensio a wider option.