Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end. He could leave as early as January. It is also highlighy likely that Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny will join the Ghanaian out the exit door.
The trio’s exit will leave a huge hole in Arsenal’s squad. We will basically have just one proper midfielder – Declan Rice. That means over the next two windows (depending on when Partey departs), we will need to sign two new central midfielders.
The first will look to be the Partey replacement – someone who can come in and replicate what Rice can do in the defensive positions.
The second will probably be someone who can both play in that defensive position, as well as further forward to provide cover and competition for Kai Havertz.
There is also the alternative that both new signings can play in the “6” and “8”.
So who are the options?
Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa
Mikel Arteta and Edu have been fans of the Aston Villa midfielder for a while.
Dougie Luiz is certainly someone who can do play both as our deepest midfielder and that little further forward to a high standard.
With over 150 appearances in the Premier League for Aston Villa, Luiz has proved he has what it takes to perform week in week out in England. He would certainly be a “no risk” signing.
97 of those apperances have come playing as the deepest of Aston Villa’s midfield. A single pivot whilst the likes of John McGinn, Emi Buendía, Philippe Coutinho or Youri Tielemans played further ahead.
This season, with the recruitment of Boubacar Kamara and departure of Coutinho, Luiz has played further advanced.
Luiz has the right mix of defensive awareness and tenacity, combined with wonderful technique. He is Aston Villa’s best passer and anything positive they do tends to come through him.
You could certainly see Luiz in an Arsenal shirt, as cover for Rice defensively and as an option to compete with Kai Havertz further forward.
I think he would make the perfect midfield recruit.
Martin Zubimendi – Real Sociedad
The Spanish midfielder risks becoming one of these names that is linked to us every window.
Last January we were heavilly linked with him before signing Jorginho. In the summer he was being presented to us as an alternative to Declan Rice. Speculation of us targetting him this January has already begun.
Arsenal’s Stats DNA pointed to Martin Zubimendi as an alternative to Rice and Caicedo last summer. He would not have been the big money name that the other two would have been, but he was a player that was being looked at by many across Europe, including Barcelona.
In the end, Zubimendi decided to stay at his home town club for their first Champions League campgain in 10-years, and just their 3rd in 40!
This year, Real Sociedad have slipped backwards in La Liga – currently in 6th and already 6 points off a top 4. You have to feel that if they do not get Champions League football, then Zubimendi might be off.
With a reported £52m release clause, Zubamendi is a classic defensive midfielder in the mould of Emmanuel Petit.
He sits in-front of the Sociedad back four with his primary job to break up play and protect the defence. He is an excellent short and long passer of the ball and his simplistic style of play has been compared to Sergio Busquets, which is probably why Barcelona were interested.
Zubimendi has to be top of the list to be the “out and out defensive option”.
Jorginho – Arsenal
I expect Jorginho to leave for regular first team football, but I also would not be surprised if he stays.
The Brazilian-Italian is a fantastic footballer. Someone who does not rely on pace and pwoer to dominate a midfield, instead relying on his excellent reading of the game. He is a leader o nthe pitch, almost like having a manager playing.
I never really got the “Jorginho’s legs have gone” argument of some, as Jorginho never really had legs to begin with.
He turns 32 towards the end of th year, but the likes of Luka Modric and Andrea Pirlo shows you do not write of “thinking footballers” as they head towards their mid-30s.
The issue with Jorginho is where he fits in – you would not be comfortable him replacing Rice for a length of time as Arsenal’s sole defensive midfielder.
In recent games, we have seen Joginho dovetail with Rice, and you feel having someone with a bit more energy next to him is best (similar to Casemiro next to Modric). I can certainly see Douglas Luiz and Jorginho being able to play well in tandem.
Keeping Jorginho for an extra year or two will also allow us to continue developing Charlie Patino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The latter is exciting plenty in the academy and, given another 2-years, could save us millions,.
Would I offer Jorginho another year? Yes. Would Jorginho accept that? I am not sure.
Charlie Patino – Arsenal (on-loan at Swansea City)
We seem to have been awaiting an age for Charlie Patino to break through.
The 20-year-old was once on par with EJude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala for England. Whilst those two have progressed into senior mens football, Patino is still battling to break through.
Last season he started well for Blackpool, but his performances dropped as they hurtled towards relegation. This season he is back in the Championship with Swansea City.
For Swansea, he is playing in the left handed advanced position that Havertz currently plays in for Arsenal. Anyone that would call for Patino to replace the German would need to give their head a wobble. But that does not mean Patino is a bad player.
The main issue for Patino is whether he is ready to step up to Arsenal.
Some will argue “if he is not ready at 20, he will never be”. But take one look over to West London and Conor Gallagher is the answer.
At 20, Gallagher was on-loan at Swansea in the Championship. He then spent a season in the Premier League with West Brom, and a 2nd loan to Crystal Palace. Last year he became a regular in the Chelsea squad, and is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
I think Patino needs a year on-loan at a Premier League club. That will show whether he can reach the level needed for The Arsenal.
Sign Douglas Luiz (or Martin Zubimendi) to replace Partey, keep Jorginho for another year, send Patino on loan to a Premier League club and Myles Lewis-Skelly to a Championship side feels like it is good forward thinking.
Others:
Gabriel Moscardo – Has caught Edu’s eye during a recent scouting trip of Brazil was Gabriel Moscardo. Just 18 so very raw. Would probably be a Patino replacement in the equation above.
Andre – 22-year-old capped by Brazil this year. Would be a cheaper, rawer version of Douglas Luiz.
Javi Guerra – One of the highest rated midfielders in Spain. Plays similar to Declan Rice. Just 20. £86m release clause.
Arthur Vermeeren – Being Belgium makes the comparison to Kevin de Bruyne easy to make. More of an advanced option. Similar to Moscardo in that he would repalce Patino in our thinking
Final thoughts
If it was down to me (and it is not), I would look to recruit Douglas Luiz. He looks the perfect fit as someone who can play in both that defensive role, and as a more attack minded midfielder.
I would follow this up with securing Jorginho to another 1 or 2 year deal.
The focus then needs to be on investing in youth to replace Jorginho long term – whether that is inside from Patino or Lewis-Skelly or by recruiting someone like Moscardo or Vermeeren.
If Jorginho does not sign, we might have to scrap the “project youth” side of my thoughts and recruit look to sign both Luiz and Zubimendi, with Andre Trindade as a “ready to go” alternative to the pair.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 