Dayot Upamecano scouting report: Leipzig defender wanted by Arsenal displays big flaw vs Hertha

The French centre back was at fault for the opening goal but still displayed what makes him one of the most coveted young players in Europe

It seems an odd thing to say when team-mates have spoken glowingly of Dayot Upamecano’s “unbelievable physique” but the first thing to notice about the French defender, wanted by Arsenal among many others, is his poise.

In this evening’s gritty 2-2 draw at home to Hertha Berlin, the 21-year-old never looked perturbed as he thrived in the quarterback role of an RB Leipzig system that places such emphasis on building intricately from the back.

It is perhaps easy not to panic when you have previously hit a top speed of 21.65 miles per hour but there is a lot more to Upamecano than supreme athletic ability.

He acts as a deep-lying playmaker in Julian Nagelsmann's intricate system, picking passes considered too complicated for other defenders at will.

Take the moment midway through the opening half when he played a neat one-two with Marcel Sabitzer before sending a deft chipped pass over the top to Tyler Adams.

No wonder Yussuf Poulsen, at 25-years-old an elder statesman in the Bundesliga’s youngest squad, recently said: “He is now the best centre back [in Germany]. He’s a top player, fast, clever, good in a duel. It’s very hard to get past him.”

Yet Upamecano did show a surprising lack of awareness for Hertha’s opening goal, failing to track the run of Marko Grujic into the area to meet Marvin Plattenhardt’s corner.

It was a well-taken finish from the Liverpool loanee but the Frenchman needed to be more alert and if he is to really become one of the continent’s best centre backs there is no place for such dawdling.

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All indications are that such mistakes are rare rather than a repeated flaw and there is no question that, recognising his many strengths, he would be an outstanding addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad (or any other in the Premier League), especially if there is a space freed up by David Luiz’s departure.

But it is worth remembering that a fortnight ago his agent, Volker Struth, reiterated that Upamecano will not come cheaply - reports in Germany indicate that he has a buy-out clause of about £55million - and there is widespread doubt that Arsenal will have significant funds unless they sell some existing talent.

His contract at Leipzig runs out next summer and, having had a £50million bid rejected last summer, do not rule anything out should Arsenal be able to offload some deadwood whenever the window opens.