Yaya Sanogo scouting report: All you need to know about Arsenal's new signing

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knows French second division side Auxerre very well.
Having been confirmed last night, Yaya Sanogo will be the next player to follow in the footsteps of both Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby.
And although he is not the household name that Arsenal fans will be craving, he does possess the raw ability needed to make it in the Premier League.
Sanogo is an impressive physical specimen, with his size and imposing strength he also brings speed and an electric quickness that can terrify defenders. Still to fully develop he is already very athletic, similar to Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke. He attributes his technical skills to the endless five-a-side matches during his time as a child at CO Les Ulis, the same side where Thierry Henry started his career.
Blessed with a good first touch - not just with his feet - he is very capable of holding the ball up with his back to goal much like current Gunner Olivier Giroud. Unlike Giroud, Sanogo can then also use his muscle and explosive speed to burst past his defender and finish confidently.
With all the tools in his arsenal there is no surprise that Sanogo’s name has been constantly linked with a move away from his current club for over two years now. Dropping to Ligue 2 last season would have seen most young talents move on to pastures new, but one hanging doubt stopped the top clubs making a move. Unfortunately Sanogo’s last two years have been dogged with injury.

In 2010 after impressing for French U19 side he suffered a double break of his leg playing for Auxerre reserves, which ended his season. By the start of the 2011 season he had successfully recovered, was playing again for the first team and earned a call up for the French U21 side.

Everything was going well, but just after scoring his first senior goal against Toulouse he suffered another setback, injuries relating to his original leg break would keep him out for another year.

Another spell of rehab saw him make his return at the end of 2012, returning to the first team in Decemeber he scored on his first game back as Auxerre beat Niort 4-2. Then after finding his match fitness he exploded back onto the footballing world, scoring seven goals in just two games. Although Auxerre were faltering in the league, the spotlight had returned to the Stade Abbe Deschamps, and Sanogo was the name on scout’s lips around Europe.

Of course, in true Sanogo fashion this new found form was followed by another injury, this time to his thigh, but again he returned, and scored in Auxerre’s last game against Angers.

The warning signs are clear to see, in three years he only managed seven starts in Ligue 1.

However the positives are also as clear, when fit this season he has scored nine goals in seven starts.

All the elements are there for this young Frenchman to develop into a very exciting and dangerous centre forward. With his body still developing there is hope that the injuries that have plagued his career so far will become a thing of the past.

A record of 16 goals in 24 games would be enough to get any fans excited about a new signing, but when you realise that comes after four seasons of football there are reasons to be sceptical.

With a move to the Emirates this summer sealed there is no reason for Wenger to rush Sanogo into the first-team, with the right care and attention given to the now 20-year old, he has all the talent to become one of the Premier League’s most deadly strikers.