Since he was unveiled as Gunners' boss on 20th December 2019, Mikel Arteta has turned the season around, providing results through attractive and positive football. In perhaps his most difficult task, he has tightened up our 'uncoachable defence'; only two clubs have kept more clean sheets and conceded fewer goals than Arteta's Arsenal. It is so important that the board completely back his process and wishes in the upcoming transfer market, as he can only take this overly mediocre squad so high up the table.
With that being said, here are the three players I have highlighted as key individuals we should be targeting in the off-season - these are not necessarily deals which I see as realistic and probable, just my opinions on players who would fit into the new system and continue to take us forward.
Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid (27 y/o)
The Ghanaian has been heavily linked with Arsenal for months, with multiple journalists suggesting he is eager for a move to London for a new challenge. The deal would certainly not be impossible, with a £45 million pound release clause required for the midfielder's services. Reports today from Charles Watts have emerged claiming both sides would be open to a player-swap deal with Atletico acquiring Alexandre Lacazette, a player who the Arsenal faithful have begun to lose trust in.
He would be a relentless force in the midfield, ideally being deployed as a box to box player alongside Granit Xhaka and another player who I will elaborate on further in the piece. He has a presence that has been missed at this club ever since Patrick Vieira left in 2005, despite multiple attempts to find a replacement. Partey is a natural ball-winner, averaging 2 tackles a game this season, as well as 63% successful duels. He is the ideal man to do the dirty work in the centre of the park in a team full of talented individuals such as Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka who can further carry the ball to spark an attack.
Although widely praised and recognised for his defensive duties, his other capabilities shouldn't be left unnoticed. Thomas Partey is very comfortable on the ball and taking players on where required, boasting 1.7 dribbles per game at a success rate of 88%. He is impressively strong and powerful on the ball and can comfortably carry it out from the middle, which is something that could certainly benefit Arsenal and Arteta's style of play.
One noticeable game of his which Arsenal fans may have tuned in for came on the 11th of March, when Atletico Madrid knocked reigning competition champions, Liverpool, out of the Champions League at Anfield. Alongside Oblak, Partey was the best player on the pitch, and he massively contributed to the win. Some impressive stats include winning 7 ground duels and 3 aerial duels, 2 successful dribbles, 4 tackles, interceptions and clearances plus 2 blocked shots to boot. It was a truly dominant display that caught the eye of many Gooners and confirmed their rallying admiration of the Ghanaian midfielder.
Dominik Szoboszlai, RB Salzburg (19 y/o)
If Arteta plans to utilise a 433 formation going forward, Szoboszlai is the perfect player to slot in besides Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey. He would operate as an 8, the more advanced of the three who links up the play from midfield to attack, and would act as a main creative outlet for the Gunners. A number of outlets have linked the Hungarian with a move to London, however there has been far less talk than with the former mentioned Partey.
His numbers throughout the 19/20 campaign have been very impressive for a player of his age and experience, as he boasts 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions so far, especially considering he has averaged just 62 minutes per game. Furthermore, he has created 12 big chances and 2.7 key passes per 90.
It must be considered that the Austrian First Division holds a big difference in quality in comparison to the Premier League, and it could take him some time to settle and climatise, however the move poses a challenge that any player should be willing to undertake in order to catapult their career further. He could provide the creativity that Arsenal have noticeably lacked since the exclusion of Mesut Ozil from the matchday squads; Dani Ceballos has undertaken this role since the return however his performances are very inconsistent.
The three of them in midfield would compliment each other nicely. With Szoboszlai as the furthest forward in attacks, Thomas Partey as a traditional box to box runner and Xhaka holding back as a deep-lying playmaker, Arsenal would find themselves with a trio capable of controlling matches and competing with the very best midfields in the league, fixing a problem we have found ourselves with for years.
Pau Torres, Villarreal (23 y/o)
Despite the imminent arrival of William Saliba in the coming weeks, Arsenal still lack a solid and reliable partner for him going forward. Mustafi has performed well so far under Arteta however he is very error-prone, the same for David Luiz, Sokratis is very much out of Arteta's plans with 0 appearances since the return, Holding is recovering from injury and has looked skittish on the ball, and Chambers is still returning from his lengthy injury too. It is known that the club are targeting a centre-back this summer, and my choice would be Pau Torres.
He is very comfortable on the ball, which is essential to Arteta's style of play. This is why David Luiz has been so favoured; he creates chances from the back. With Aubameyang on the left, he makes inside runs which draw the right-back out of position, leaving the marauding left-back (ideally Kieran Tierney) free space to run into and, typically, it is Luiz who plays this ball over the midfield. This same role could be taken up by either Torres or Saliba, with the former creating 3 big chances this season and holding a long-ball success rate of 57%.
Torres would be a more affordable option compared to the option of Dayot Upamecano, who has an estimated value of around £60 million, compared to the Spaniard's rumoured £43 million release clause. His 1.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game highlight his composure; rather than put in rash challenges, he holds his opposition up and forces them to release the ball, often backwards or sideways. This composure further translates through his ability to play it out from the back, too.
At just 23 years old, it must be noted that (if he were hypothetically to move to North London) Arsenal fans shouldn't expect him to instantly transform their backline, with the same applying to William Saliba. Too much expectation and unwarranted backlash could result in a lack of confidence, which in turn may hinder their development into their very high potentials.
Comments