Who is Aaron Hickey? The young Scot set for big things at Brentford

 

Brentford will be disappointed at how the summer transfer window has panned out so far. Having handed Christian Eriksen a short-term deal at the turn of the year, the Dane impressed with the Bees, so much so that he is set to link up with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Ahead of their second Premier League season, however, Brentford can ill-afford to dwell on Eriksen's impending departure and instead need to focus on adding new faces to the squad this summer. 

 

With a little over a month until the Premier League gets back underway, Brentford are at long last set to make their first senior summer signing. Aaron Hickey was tipped with a move to Arsenal earlier in the year, yet the Scottish left-back - yes, another one - is close to a switch to the Brentford Community Stadium. 

 

While a creative midfielder to ease Eriksen's exit must be high on Thomas Frank's wishlist, the addition of Hickey bolsters his options at left wing-back. Frank used a three-man backline in 29 of Brentford's 38 league matches last term and the onus is on the wing-backs to provide the width for the west London side. 

 

Rico Henry was largely tasked with carrying out the attacking threat down the left flank, but did struggle with the offensive demands in his debut Premier League campaign. While he averaged marginally fewer dribbles per 90 (0.9) than Hickey (1) managed in Serie A last season, the latter's dribble success rate (61.2%) was higher than the former's (45%). It's not to say Henry thoroughly underwhelmed in Frank's system, rather that Hickey's ability to beat a man more regularly would open up new angles to be maximised by Brentford. 

 

In boasting a lower success rate, Henry being dispossessed more frequently than Hickey also put Brentford on the back foot more often. With the space vacated when he does break forward, losing the ball high up the pitch would allow opponents to overload the Bees' left flank. This contributed towards a higher proportion of the shots Brentford conceded last season coming down the left flank (19%) than the right (16%). 

 

Perhaps most importantly, though, is that Henry has quality competition and cover for the left wing-back role. When Henry was unavailable, Sergi Canos and Dominic Thompson covered down that left flank. The former isn't a natural in the role, while the latter spent the second half of the season on loan at Ipswich. Hickey's arrival, then, boosts Frank's options at left wing-back, which is vital for a side seeking to avoid the dreaded 'second season syndrome'. 

 

 

In Hickey, Frank would have a player who is also comfortable on the right flank if required, and a defensively sound youngster when off the ball. Indeed, Hickey was dribbled past just 10 times in Serie A this season, and put in a modest average of 1.5 tackles per 90. For a Bologna side that finished 2021/22 with a possession return of 50.3%, that ranking 12th, it was important for the players to work hard off the ball to ensure there was little pressure applied to the goal. 

 

As such, Bologna conceded 55 league goals last season, the ninth fewest, and actually three fewer than fifth-placed Lazio. Both in an out of possession, Hickey was incredibly influential for Bologna and Brentford will hope for similar in the capital next season. Surprisingly still was that he ended 2021/22 with five league goals, marking him as Bologna's fourth highest league scorer, and that return more than any other player aged 21 and under in Serie A.

 

Three of those five were from open play, with the other two from set-piece situations. In addition, Hickey was fouled on average 2.3 times per 90, that ranking 27th in Italy's top tier last term. This is an added bonus for Brentford, who finished the Premier League campaign fourth for set-piece goals scored (15), excluding penalties. The 20-year-old, then, should prove a solid addition to his exciting Brentford side.

Who is Aaron Hickey? The young Scot set for big things at Brentford