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Arsenal have started the transfer window on a slow and steady note, having completed the signing of Alexandre Lacazette for a club record fee, while also recruiting former Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac on a free.
The Gunners finished outside the top 4 for the first time under Arsene Wenger, and need to invest heavily in the squad, while also getting rid of the deadwood. While the Emirates Stadium outfit have been linked with a world record move for Kylian Mbappe, they face stern competition from Real Madrid.
However, there are more pressing concerns that Arsene Wenger needs to address before the end of the transfer window and midfield is one of those areas.
The Emirates Stadium outfit had to mix and match in midfield last season, until after a sustained run Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka formed some kind of partnership. The Gunners currently face uncertain future of arguably their best midfielder – Santi Cazorla – who is currently sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury that has kept him out of the game for close to 9 months now.
Jack Wilshere’s future is also uncertain at this point of time, while Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin are good enough only for a bit-part role. Hence, there is a need to reinforce in the heart of midfield, and here are 5 midfielders Arsenal should try to sign before the end of the transfer window:
#5 Jean Michael Seri
Jean-Michael Seri played a starring role in helping Nice finish in 3rd position in Ligue 1 last season and it is no surprise that he has been linked with a move to some of the biggest clubs in the world.
The Barcelona target would be a huge addition to Arsene Wenger’s side, adding bite to a team, who have oft been called too soft. The Ivory Coast international reportedly has a €35 million release clause in his contract and the Emirates Stadium outfit should go all out in their pursuit of the 25-year-old.
Seri is a good passer of the ball and also has an eye for a killer through ball. The 25-year-old may not have the build of a giant but as we have seen with N’Golo Kante, it is not a requisite for becoming a top defensive midfielder. The Nice-man also doesn’t dive into tackles, hence, is a much better alternative to Francis Coquelin, who has often been termed as a walking red card.
#4 Leon Goretzka
One of the stars of Germany’s Confederations Cup winning campaign, Leon Goretzka has established himself as one of the most coveted midfielders in all of Europe. It is no surprise that he has been heavily linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The 22-year-old is adept at playing anywhere across midfield and can also provide a back-up in defence if required. The German international is extremely proficient in holding on to the ball and his tall structure helps him hold his own against physically imposing defenders.
Not only that, Goretzka helps massively in the defensive aspect of the game and is known for his tough tackling. In addition to that, he also possesses a mean right-foot, while also having to be extremely good with his anticipation, as was evident from his Confederations Cup campaign – when he finished the tournament as the top-scorer.
The German midfielder currently has only 1 year left on his contract with the Veltins-Arena outfit and Arsenal also have his former teammate Sead Kolasinac to further boost their chances of landing the 22-year-old.
#3 Mateo Kovacic
After having a difficult first season at Real Madrid, Mateo Kovacic played a central role in the Santiago Bernabeu outfit’s double winning campaign last season. It was because of the squad rotation policy in place by Zinedine Zidane, that allowed the Croatian international to feature prominently in the team, however, with the addition of Marcos Llorente and Dani Ceballos, the 23-year-old may struggle for game time.
The Croatian has an eye for a pass and is adept with his dribbling, while he is also capable of holding his own in tight spaces. The only area of weakness in the midfielder’s game is probably his ability to compete for aerial duels but given what else he brings to the team, it is something that can be ignored for now.
Kovacic is capable of playing both as a deep lying playmaker or a more advanced central midfielder. He can form a key partnership with Granit Xhaka to allow the attacking players enjoy more freedom in their game. The only caveat here is that Real Madrid will not let him go on the cheap.
#2 Thomas Lemar
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for the AS Monaco sensation, and if reports are to be believed, the Gunners even had a couple of bids rejected for the 21-year-old.
Many would point out that Lemar is a wide player, utilized mostly on the wings by the Stade Louis II outfit but what is not widely known is that the Frenchman is equally capable of playing in the centre. The Frenchman is a very good dribbler and is also equally good with set-pieces.
Given that Arsenal do not have a designated world-class set-piece taker, the addition of Lemar will also help sort out this issue. In addition to this, the 21-year-old has a mean left-foot and is known for scoring long-range thunderbolts.
The interest is there to sign him, it all depends on whether Arsenal are able to agree a fee with AS Monaco for the services of the Frenchman.
#1 Thiago Alcantara
Thiago Alcantara is the perfect like-to-like replacement for Arsenal’s midfield stalwart Santi Cazorla – who is facing an uncertain future due to an ankle injury sustained in October last year. The former Barcelona man has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, if not the best.
The Spaniard is capable of playing anywhere across the midfield and is known for his robust tackling higher up the pitch. The 26-year-old is an excellent passer and can get out of tight spots using his dribbling.
What makes Thiago the complete package is that despite being extremely proficient while attacking, he doesn’t shun his defensive duties and is, in fact, very good at it. The Spaniard is very good at intercepting the ball and as a matter of fact, was the player with most interceptions per game across Europe last season.
But as is the case with the best of the best, he doesn’t have a reason to leave Bayern Munich and even if he did, Arsenal will have to cough up a lot of money to secure his services.
