This is a guest post from the exceptional footballing brain of @Mike_McDonald.

Arsenal’s midfield is starting to become more dominant. It is also looking temporarily thin. They are not going to loan Maitland Niles and gamble away our chance at fourth. Even before our decision to agree to this loan we arguably needed a central midfielder.

The piece that we don’t know is whether we are replacing Maitland Niles or perhaps Granit Xhaka who seems to be rumoured to be leaving every summer.

I have researched CM’s worldwide to bring you these options.

Of all these options, what is most interesting is whether we buy a position-specific CM or what I think is more likely, a CM that can play in a single pivot, double pivot or in a square.

Feel free to skip through these options as you wish. Unlike a regular blog every word isn’t necessary. Alternatively, read it all and get wise to the many interesting midfielders.

The less knowns

Kouadio Kone 20 Borussia Moenchengladbach

In a very disappointing BM team, Kone has been very good.
He is grooming himself as the stereotypical modern day central midfielder capable of a little of everything. Fantastic in tight spaces, powerful, athletic, aggressive and a running machine. It is his confidence that screams at you when you watch him. If you watch this two minute clip against arguably the world’s best club team, he plays as if nobody had told him that they were. Due to his versatility Arsenal could use him in any of the central locations. I’m a sucker for a good hairstyle too so he wins my vote simply based on that!

https://youtu.be/ASyi9YHxOBE

Seko Fofana 26 Lens

He has started to catch peoples attention in his prime years and eye-catching he certainly is. A Yaya Toure style central midfielder with devastating power and a strong desire to get in the box. He could also be described as raw and stylistically wild but he would cause havoc in any league. Arsenal don’t have players that ‘cause havoc’ in our midfield and I’m doubtful that Arteta would want this quality as he seems to prefer control.
He will be best played at Arsenal as an ‘8’ so as to not curb he’s attacking instincts. He would be a very effective defensive ‘6’ also but better in a duel pivot due to his preference to run with the ball which would cause risk behind him.

Youssouf Fofana 22 Monaco

I could see Fofana at Arsenal. I think he fits the profile of a big, strong and athletic CM. Arteta has quietly commented on the need for this in the PL in the past. I’m not sure that this type is his preference but he seems to have recognized that it is essential. The reason that I pick out Fofana is that he seems more cautious than many of these other choices. When I say cautious I mean safe in possession and has the underrated ability of knowing when to tackle and went to back off. This has been Xhaka’s achilles’ heel as we know. Alongside an athletic profile he has quick feet to match. Fofana is not getting the recognition currently as he is playing alongside Tchouameni but he’s absolutely a consideration for Arsenal in a double pivot.

https://youtu.be/DpEaq4et0Y8

Other options:

Maxime Lopez 24 Sassuolo
Maxime Lopez looks about 15 years old. He has the body of a 13 year old. He is however a very good footballer. I just don’t think Arsenal want this type. I think we want tall strong and athletic in our central midfield. I’m just guessing though.

Cheick Doucoure 21 Lens
An elite tackling machine. Trusted to build up play through central areas. Interesting option as it’s rare to find both sides of the game at such a young age.

Mohamed Camera 25 RB Salzburg
Transition specialist with high regain numbers. Interesting hunched posture. Could see at Southampton first.

Matheus Nunes 23 Sporting Lisbon
Long legged and fast midfielder who specializes in getting out of tight corners. Promising.

Aster Vranckx Wolfsburg 19
A new name. The bigger European teams are already sniffing and he would be a low risk gamble with a large upside.

Marcos Antonio Shaktar 21
Quick thinking, elegant DM who has taken the Russia route. May need longer before ready.

Michael Cuisance 21 Bayern Munich
Cuisance was a childhood prodigy. Bayern snaffled him up but as is natural he is struggling for minutes in their impressive midfield. Like Vranckx, a low risk gamble.

Lovro Majer 23 Rennes
A very interesting player. Has spent part of the season as a tricky winger, part as an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a central midfielder. A talent that you will hear a lot more about.

Nicolas Dominguez 23 Bologna
A terrier with a fantastic passing range. Another to come from Bologna.

Free in 6 months, cheap now

There are some very interesting players on this list. Some would argue that the first one is the most ideal regardless of price.

Franck Kessie 25 Milan

Perhaps the perfect player with the perfect footballing experience at the perfect age and for the perfect price.
Franck Kessie is a very similar player to Thomas Partey. I remember when we signed Thomas, that I stated that we would want his twin brother. He has shown us his gifting but has been inconsistent. Kessie is arguably more powerful and stronger than Thomas and can play both ways and in multiple systems. Better than Partey going forward and rather good from the penalty spot too.
Arsenal could use him alongside Thomas or as a single pivot in a 4-3-3, allowing Thomas and others to push forward.

https://youtu.be/bme7VZjjN0g

Boubacar Kamara 22 Marseille

So Kamara is a player. He’s been a player for quite a while and one that a coach like Arteta would appreciate due to his versatility. Would likely be a replacement for Chambers although Arteta has never used Chambers in central midfield. He has played as much as a defensive midfielder as he has as a centre back in his career. The list of teams that are after him is quite long and Newcastle will probably throw ridiculous wages at him. Very modern and cultured footballer with beautiful posture, composure and quick thinking. Quick with impressive decision making and leadership for his age.
His best quality may well be his tackling. In the modern game where regaining possession is producing almost 50% of opportunities to score, this would prove very useful as Chelsea find with Kanté.
He’s right in the perfect age pocket for our recruitment and a small fee would be a big bonus. Arsenal are currently fine at CB and so Kamara would be used as a DM and would be a better option than we have been using in a single pivot to date.

Florian Grillitsch 26 Hoffenheim

If you see this purchase as being a long-term replacement for ElNeny, then you will very much like Grillitsch. He is a far more expansive and all around defensive and attacking CM than ElNeny. It’s honestly quite odd that he is 26 years old and not played for a bigger team than Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen. When you watch him play he has that lovely tendency to make everything look easier than it is. Excels at ball winning but more progressive than ElNeny. Could we do a Florian swap? They can take ours and give him some goalscoring experience in the Bundesliga and we get a fantastic rotational option for our midfield!
I would see Grillitsch as a long-term squad player as we wait for an elite CM this summer.

Other options:

Marcelo Brozovic 29 Inter
One of Europe’s underrated for a while now. Are we wanting experience?

Axel Witzel 32 Dortmund
A personal favourite. The all around midfielder who has traveled far but never to the PL.
A fantastic free transfer in the summer for experience and nous like this guy…

Fernandinho 36 City
One of the most underrated over the last decade. Tactical fouling genius.

Corentin Tolisso 27 Bayern Munich
About to be free and in his prime. The forgotten man who will be motivated to get back in the French team for the World Cup.

Glen Kamara 26 Rangers
Former Gooner excelling up North. Not many make the transition from the top of the Scottish league to the top teams in England though.

The rumours

I suppose that the central midfielder that we actually sign will more than likely come from this list than any other as they are the ones that we are apparently looking at.
What is interesting though, is that they are all a little different from each other.

Mattias Svanberg 22 Bologna

Warning!! If you watch this video you may fall in love. They say that the most dangerous quality of a recruiter is falling in love. As many of us know, love can distract you from reality and you start doing silly things. In this context it would be overpaying and/or focusing on one player rather than having back up plans. Svanberg reminds me of McTominay but rather the player that he should be. An all round high energy, running machine with a quite unique and high level of skill for a Swedish player. Swedish players are normally more functional but Svanberg is rather eye-catching.
A quick thinking, technical player having spent his early career out wide. The quick thinking may be seen as a Xhaka upgrade as one touch progressive passing is still a little rare in Arsenal’s midfield.
Somewhat of a dual monster too which is much needed in the PL and versatility to fit our differing systems. In the short term he may prove to be the elite player that we may think that we have to sign in the summer given five months to show himself. I would imagine that the club would see him, worst case scenario, as a huge upgrade rotational option for our midfield long-term.
Would rival Martin Odegaard as the most handsome current Arsenal player!

Renato Sanches 24 Lille

If he wasn’t somewhat injury prone I would snap up Renato without looking too hard at the other options. I just love the style of player. Anyone who can play the CM role and look like they do ball retention drills in a closet is my kind of player. Also, Santi Cazorla was my man. Renato, like Cazorla, has played in more attacking positions as his quickness over 5 yards separates him from opponents. He is different in that Cazorla would spin and pass and Renato spins and accelerates.
Not only do I love his profile but Arsenal do not really have a ball carrying midfielder or Thomas Partey hasn’t been given the license to do it yet. Renato has a multitude of other qualities to add. He has the potential to be a professional thief in ball regains as well as a cute pass in the final third. Fans will be discouraged by his poor showing at Swansea, but his time at Bayern Munich and Lille have been worlds better. If you haven’t seen him play for a couple of seasons I would suggest you watch the video because you will be shocked at his development. Arsenal could use him as a playmaking ‘6’ or as an ‘8’ in a 4-3-3 with the pace to catch the transition.
I’m doubting that Arteta is actually serious about Sanches as we need a fit and reliable option. Also, Sanches does have the tendency to risk and we know that Arteta is risk-averse in the center of the field.

Denis Zakaria 25 Borussia Moenchengladbach

Zakaria confuses me. You look at him and you think ‘ball winner’ but he’s actually a better passer than ball winner.
His athletic build and speed make him more likely to adapt to the PL than other international players coming in. His quick feet under pressure are also underrated and would be valued in a higher tempo league. He also offers power on the dribble which would be useful.
I’m sure that the club are looking closely at him because if it is a short term fix, then his time playing international football with Xhaka would help him settle into a partnership in the winter months.
I think Arteta would use him in a double pivot as I’m not sure they would trust him as a single ‘6.’

Other options:

Gini Wjinaldum 31 PSG
The perfect short term loan to get minutes.

Ruben Neves 24 Wolves
Might be the summer CM

Arthur 25 Juventus
Convinced by his press resistance. Not convinced the PL would be his bag.

Guido Rodriguez 27 Real Betis
Duel monster. Simple and effective.

Because they love Xhaka

Hans Vanaken 29 Bruges Both footed
In his prime, playing very well but are we looking for a 29 year old?

Adrien Rabiot 26 Juventus
We’ve been here before right? Every transfer window actually. Has actually improved his attitude and become a far more reliable pressing CM as well as a gifted footballer. I could see a loan as an option.
Would we want to trade midfielders that both have crazy mothers though!

Mikel Merino 25 Real Sociedad
When he was at Newcastle, I always admired his composure in a team that lacked it. I thought that they should have kept him. He has made huge strides since leaving and become a staple in the Spanish squad which is hard to do. I highly recommend the video. You will notice that he has become more dominant in Spain but still retains the gift of weight of pass and a variety of cute ways of winning possession and turning out of pressure. He is reliable enough to be a press resistant ‘6’ or a passing ‘8’ as Arsenal are currently doing with Granit.

https://youtu.be/hPv_ihs6Reo

Other options:

Fabien Ruiz 25 Napoli
You will likely know Ruiz. If Xhaka leaves in the summer, I can see him being the elite replacement.

Marc Roca 25 Bayern Munich
You may remember Roca from La Liga. Probably made the wrong move coming to the biggest club, but still a classy left footed CM at a good age. Could see a short term loan for minutes.

Papa Gueye 22 Marseille
Papa join Watford last summer only to leave 17 hours later to Marseille. A talented and elegant CM with an interesting story. Perhaps too frail for the Premier league.

The Romance

Yunus Musah 19 Valencia

Like Pedro, I live in the US. We will occasionally pay attention to the US national team. I was fascinated the last time I tuned in to see that this former Arsenal Academy player had chosen the USA as his national team and that he was starting regularly. I knew that he was getting significant minutes at Valencia but wasn’t aware of his progress. I started to watch the US more and was taken by two things. Firstly, the fact that Musa have been transformed from a winger to a central midfielder. Secondly, that he is remarkably similar to Renato Sanches. Great balance, ball carrying ability and fantastic dribbling in the final third. He may not be trusted at Arsenal in a double pivot due to his inexperience but would be a great idea for our 4-3-3 version.

His greatest asset is one that we do not actually consider to be important in central midfield but the best teams have it. Pace. We think players who are quick are supposed to play out wide or upfront but pace can be damaging in central areas too. When he matures his end product he could go to the very top.
You will be impressed with his development if you watch this video…

Other options:

Jack Wilshere 29 Unattached
I’d like to think that he is up to our level and could help us. He would raise the roof at the Emirates if he was. If I was considering him, I’d think hard about what positive energy it would bring to the stadium, even as a 20 minute sub.

Aaron Ramsey 31 Juventus
Not for me. I always thought he played for himself and lacked discipline.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain 28 Liverpool
Now playing regularly at Liverpool. Probably as they want him to stay beyond January. They will drop him in February.

The dream

Federico Valverde 23 Real Madrid
You may not be as familiar with Valverde as the others so here is a profile.
He is known as one of Europe’s elite versatile footballers. Has played in as many positions as Bukayo Saka. Specializes as a powerful, hard running, athletic CM or right back predominantly. Real Madrid’s midfield is still hard to break into but he is too good to leave out. Ancelotti will put him wherever there is a need for legs.
The Uruguayan smells danger and has the advantage of having a powerful start and the intelligence to use it. Win it, he’s gone. Every squad loves this type of player and with Arsenal likely losing Maitland-Niles, they will be looking for a similar versatile option even though Valverde will cost £70M more.

Other options:

Jude Bellingham 18 Dortmund
As an Englishman it’s pretty cool that three of our best central midfielders are potentially elite. I do have a sneaky feeling that Arsenal may try for Bellingham in the summer. As you may know, he was very close to signing a couple of years ago. What a prospect! What a player!

Declan Rice 22 West Ham
Like Bellingham, Rice would transform Arsenal from good to great. He would likely do it quicker as he has PL experience. Perhaps the perfect midfielder but huge competition and a huge price.

Aurelien Tchouameni 21 Monaco
The fact that Tchouameni is now starting for the French national team who have as many options as you have midfielders in this blog, says everything. Chelsea has been following him closely and so I’m not setting myself up to cry. Goodbye sweet Aurelien. I knew you but you didn’t know us.

Frenkie DeJong 24 Barcelona
I have a sneaky suspicion that Arsenal may go in for him this summer. A Barcelona player from the past and one of the only ones left.

Marcos Llorente 26 Atletico Madrid
See Valverde. A little older and more skillful but very similar.

8’s in a 4-3-3

Christopher Nkunku 24 Leipzig
Perfect left sided ‘8’ who could play wide left and rotate with ESR. Perfect age as he has garnered much European experience. Perfect time as he is on fire. Goals and assists weekly. Unai Emery wanted him and he would’ve been £25M cheaper. If it’s form that we want to capitalize on, Nkunku is the one. Balletic in his change of pace. Deadly eye for goal and arrival timing. Versatile, modern, energetic presser who has been coached in the Nagelsmann method, similar to Mikel’s.
Leipzig are on the slide this season. Does he want out? Yes please.

Other options:

Cole Palmer 19 Man City
I don’t see Manchester City selling but I do see another Phil Foden level player. To break consistently into gaining minutes in this elite PL team takes buckets of trust. Simply a natural footballer. I’m sure City have a pathway for him but it might be worth winking at him.

Housem Aouar 23 Lyon
A 4-3-3 dynamo, but are we going more 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1? One of the best footballers in Europe at turning on the sixpence and changing sterile possession into penetration.

Philippe Coutinho 29 Barcelona
This rumour just won’t go away. I’m stuck on this one. All the Barcelona fans that I know say to stay well clear. Then I remember that he was the best footballer in the Premier League at one point. Could offer Arsenal an ‘8’ in a 4-3-3 as well as left wing or rotation at attacking midfield. I do wonder if the temptation is Arteta thinking he can resuscitate him.

Unlikely but lovely

Kalvin Phillips 26 Leeds United
Leeds would not sell in January as they are in relegation trouble. This summer might be possible unless he stays loyal. Another English gem.

Conor Gallagher 21 Crystal Palace (on loan from Chelsea)
Developing a growing reputation in the PL. Chelsea would be mad to sell but then Chelsea often sell loan players without giving them a proper chance to prove their worth. Gallagher will shortly become a staple in the England squad as his all round game cannot be ignored. He offers such fight and now goal scoring ability but most importantly every fanbase loves a superhero and Connor Gallagher plays with a cape.

Florian Neuhaus 24 Borussia Moenchengladbach
Neuhaus has had a quiet season but is still on the periphery of the German national team and was rumored to be off to Bayern Munich. One of the few that can destroy and create from central midfield in equal measure.

Unlikely but interesting

Bruno Guimaraes 24 Lyon
Lyon are having a stinker of a season. Guimaraes is a favourite of many AFC fans. Combines Brazilian swagger with a Spanish flair for possession. Guimarães is seen as a mixture of both a deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box midfielder. He can play from a deeper position and constantly seeks to play quick forward passes, especially accurate long-balls. Arsenal could use him as a ‘6’ or ‘8’ and would be arguably getting him at his lowest possible value right now due to Covid and league position. If Arsenal want an elite passer this might be our man.

Carney Chukwuemeka 18 Villa
You know these players that you wished your club had signed before they became £40M+? CC will likely be one of those. Widely recognized as the best U-23 player in England last season where he was a man among boys. Now getting minutes in their first team. We point to Saka as the star of our Academy. Villa point at CC and say he has equal talent. Fast, skillful, strong and a true goal threat.
Would Arsenal go super young and gamble on a CM with a huge future? Doubt Villa would sell either way but I’d be tempted to test them.

Florian Wirtz 18 Bayer Leverkusen
Might end up being one of the big transfers of Summer ‘22. Like Nkunku, he is on fire. Trusted at such a tender age by both Bayer and Germany where he has to elbow Muller out of the way.
A light footed, jinking menace of a Zone 14 player with 13 goals and assists so far this season. His main asset is the ease with which he plays the game. All of the very best in any sport make it look easier as they have natural composure.
Currently he is an attacking midfielder/second striker, so is this what Arsenal are needing? I include him as he has played as an ‘8’ in a 4-3-3 and could do so at Arsenal. I wonder if he will end up as a Centraverso/recessed striker in a modern thinking team. Like Arsenal.

Other options:

Douglas Luiz 23 Villa
I see him as a very underrated PL player. Regularly starting for the Brazil national team yet not talked about in England. Doubting that Villa would sell but I see him growing into a top player.

Curtis Jones 20 Liverpool
There were rumors that Arsenal were interested in the summer. Not sure he would trade a rotation position in his hometown for the same in London.

Ruben Loftus Cheek 25 Chelsea
I’ve always liked him. A fan of any player that can repeatedly carry the ball through the lines. Like Oxlade Chamberlain, he is starting to get minutes at Chelsea so I doubt he would leave.

Ryan Gravenberch 19 Ajax
If you have never seen Gravenberch then he reminds of Pogba and Bellingham. Won’t be at Ajax for long but not sure if he would be trusted unless we went to 4-3-3.

Maxence Caqueret 21 Lyon
The master of the disguised pass. A player with a big future having a tricky season to date.

Ibrahim Sangare 24 PSV
The timing could be perfect for Sangare. He was rumored to be Premier league bound before he went to PSV but he made an intelligent decision to go there first. He’s now a dominant player at a team who are top of the league.

Konrad Laimer 24 RB Leipzig
The energizer bunny. An all round reliable option. Arsenal could do with this profile.

Sergei Milinkovic-Savic 26 Lazio
There have been rumours every year that he is moving as he is beyond Lazio but is he a big fish, small pond player? Offers versatility as a CM/second striker or potentially CF pivot.

Weston McKinnie 23 Juventus
A modern running machine. Somewhat a jack of all trades, master of none. I was surprised when Juventus signed him but he is a reliable squad option.

Phillip Billing 25 Bournemouth
I’ve been a fan for years. Never understood why he hasn’t stepped up. So composed. Such a champion at duels. Cheap and a good squad option.

Underused, big potential

Donny Van Der Beek 24 Utd
He is on his third Utd coach and none have trusted him. Top player in CL prior. In wrong league? Wrong team? Or wrong system?

Saul Niguez 27 Chelsea (on loan from A. Madrid)
Considered one of the best midfielders in Europe. Came to Chelsea. Vanished. Like DVB, wrong league? Wrong team? Or wrong system? Both maybe available.

Riqui Puig 22 Barcelona
There are a few around Europe with huge upside that need the kiss of life. Puig is one. Would remind me of Juninho showing up in the PL. A spark. A player that you look at and think he’s too small so your eyes stay wide open often. La Masia taught. Needs a haircut.

A specific reason

Edson Alvarez 24 Ajax

Tackling is now king. If true then I have found the prince.
Edson Alvarez is a specialist. He’s been to The ‘N’Golo Kante School of winning the ball back’ This kind of player is ordinarily used as a DM and that’s fine. Chelsea pushed Kante higher when football became about high pressing. Arsenal could use Alvarez as a ball winning DM in a 4-3-3, in a double pivot or in a square alongside Odegaard, pressing high.

Other option:

James Ward Prowse 27

It’s unfashionable to say that you want JWP at a big club. I see him as a very good PL all round CM with one exceptional talent, set plays. Let’s say that Arsenal get 10 corners and attacking free kicks per game. We are now starting to prove very dangerous from corners in particular. Ten opportunities per game for a specialist to step up. At his current club he likely only gets half of this number at best. How many games are won by set plays? Lots. I’d take a 7/10 CM who is 10/10 from set plays at Arsenal. Seems rather intelligent to me.

My favourites

Enock Mwepu 24 Brighton
My new favourite non-Arsenal player. I think Arsenal need a midfielder who is an agent of chaos. A marauding, powerful runner with the ball that attracts groups of defenders as he has ‘great feet for a big man.’ Clever enough to know when to lay it off.
Like many who are powerful going forward, he is a menace to those wanting to go in the other direction too. I remember listening to Tim Vickery talking about Mwepu being one of the best talents in the African continent. Brighton paid attention and I think they got him to replace Bissouma, but for some reason Bissouma is still at Brighton too.
Mwepu would be a great double pivot CM for Arsenal. His national team, Zambia, haven’t qualified for AFCON so….
The video is Mwepu pre-BHA at Red Bull Salzburg where he had 4 years of top development. I doubt BHA would sell. Weep.

https://youtu.be/NuoqmeSysu4

Other options:

Wilf Ndidi 25 Leicester

Ndidi is currently playing CB at Leicester which is credit to him and his understanding of the game. Ndidi is a professional footballing thief who has perfected the art of the footballing robbery. Although he is good, not great on the ball he is great at ball winning where others are good.
It’s easy to think that he might be early 30’s as he looks it and he’s been in the PL for a good while now, but he hasn’t even reached his prime. I’d love a ball winning specialist in our midfield as we haven’t had one since Coquelin and we have so many direct runners to pass to.

Zambo Anguissa 26 Napoli (on loan from Fulham)

I didn’t realize that Anguissa was on loan. My heart sank in the summer when he went to Napoli as I see him as the perfect modern rotational CM.
He has rocked it in Naples and I’m sure they will want to keep him but Arsenal should intervene. A two footed progressive player with versatility to play in any formation and any midfield position.

Yves Bissouma 25 Brighton

I find it incredible that Bissouma is still at BHA. Perhaps it’s his off field issues with authorities that are putting off suitors in the short term.
A transformational DM who excels in 1 and 2 touch passing and ball winning. These players are in short supply as they normally specialize in one, not both. Perfect age, experience in PL and drive to succeed at a bigger club.
Alongside a top CF, Bissouma could transform Arsenal as a DM from good to great.

Versatile CM/RB

We need both. A Central Midfielder and a better back up right back. These players do both

Ridle Baku 23 Wolfsburg
I was convinced that he would move to a much bigger club last summer. Baku has quickly arrived into the German national team and is starting games. He excels at interceptions in the defensive third and a high and varied skill base for the attacking third. I was unaware that he has also played central midfield this season but this is unsurprising as he is multi talented. Right backs and central midfielders are not normally exciting but Baku certainly is that. Would be an excellent addition at Arsenal. Could overlap on the right as a tactical switch from inverting our right back. Also has a tendency to dribble inside and try to create and is more comfortable than Tomiyasu in this area. Would add quickness to our midfield.
A video well worth watching.

Sergi Roberto 29 Barcelona
Played at the highest level his whole career, this baby faced 29 year old is still at Barcelona despite fan unrest.

Tyler Adams 22 RB Leipzig
Arsenal apparently interested last summer. Would be a very intelligent choice as he seems to play in both positions often. Extremely quick, pressing player who may encourage our American owners to invest.

Nahitan Nandez 25 Cagliari
Has always reminded me of Gennaro Gattuso. A terrier of a player. Hard-working and intense.

Short term solution

Either an older player doing a short term job or a player on loan who can fill a gap but might not be a long-term desire.

Idrissa Gueye 32 PSG
One of the most underrated yet consistently used ball winners in Europe. Everton have never been the same since he left.

Swap deals and favours

Amadou Diawara 24 Roma AMN
Always liked this player. Rumors that he has been offered before. Fast thinking, technically secure defensive midfielder

Gerson 24 Marseille
A talented player having a very good season in southern France. Could he be used in Guendouzi negotiations?

2 for 1 (Central midfielder/forward)

Lucas Paqueta 24 Lyon
A rather delightful footballer to watch. Typical Brazilian with golden feet, eye-catching incisive passing. Looks like he is tiptoeing around the field pushing the ball past players just as they think they have it. Becoming more of goalscorer now for both Lyon and Brazil which makes me think. There is an argument that he could be a better false 9 than a CM/AM as his technical ability as a pivot would likely be unmatched. Similar to Memphis Depay in this regard. Would Arsenal be interested in a different type? I have a feeling that they would.

Other option:

Guus Til 24 Feyenoord
A left field suggestion. If Arsenal wanted a cheap CM who can play second striker or CF as a target man and graduate to second choice next season. If so, then Til is a small gamble.

My pick

If it’s a loan we go for, I’d go for Gini Wijnaldjum. The Dutch national team play him box to box and he will surprise you with his flair and ability to create as well as score. He might just be the worlds best at winning second balls and this is a huge asset. Won everything that could get us over the line and into the Champions League.
If we want to use actual money I would I have a short list of James Ward Prowse, Enock Mwepu and Mattias Svanberg. I would also be tempted to give Wilshere a short term contract but I wonder if they are resisting due to Charlie Patino‘s emergence?
In the summer I would prioritize Frankie DeJong as I think Barcelona have to sell and he can be the world’s best midfielder.

I think Arsenal will…

Go Swedish in January and Mattias Svanberg will be one of two they sign. If not Svanberg then Denis Zakaria.

Thank you for taking 4 hours of your time to read this. If you did then know that it took me three weeks to research and write, so no complaining 🙂
I appreciate it.

Mike McDonald

You can find me @Mike_Mmcdonald I write the Positives, Needs and Hopes technical and tactical blog at www.Gunnerstown.com after every Arsenal game. Attached is always a 15-minute podcast too. I also do ‘Who Am I’ Arsenal quizzes and write in The Gooner Fanzine each month.