Finding that Perfect Fit for Arsenal’s Attacking Midfield Needs

As Mikel Arteta continues to rebuild Arsenal into a team in his own image, while also adjusting the template handed down to him by Pep Guardiola, the Gunners can expect to see a fair bit of transfer action. Of course, the club is shackled by a lack of funds due to missing out on European football, as well as a tumultuous year that’s seen all football finances take a hit.

While all of the club’s outgoings are yet to be finalised, one position looks distinctly understaffed already: attacking midfield. It’s already been confirmed that impressive loanee Martin Ødegaard will remain in Madrid despite Arsenal’s desire to sign him full-time.

Not only has there been a change of management at the Bernabéu, but the 22-year-old Norwegian has long been seen as a superstar of the future, and so would have cost a significant sum to land. So, where could Arsenal look to find a player who both suits the team and has the capability to deliver what Arsenal needs?

Fitting Arteta’s style and adding more to the attack

Emile Smith Rowe is now the only first-team player who’s naturally suited to playing in the attacking midfield role. Both he and Ødegaard played admirably in the role, as per the stats, with the Englishman and the Norwegian averaging 1.4 key passes per game. In half of the starts, the loanee did average more dribbles (0.9 to 0.5), shots per game (1.1 to 0.7), a better pass percentage (90.9 to 88.7), and fewer instances of poor control (1.0 to 1.9).

Notably, the ability to pick up the ball, dribble through enemy lines, and be ready to play on the turn are all critical features of Arteta’s adjusted style of play for an attacking midfielder. Based primarily around the likes of Smith Rowe, the Spaniard now seeks to string together surging passing moves up the pitch after exposing space higher up by coaxing in opposition attacks.

Smith Rowe is a very talented player, but with Arsenal needing to strive for a place in Europe and at least a rotation piece being required for stability and consistency in the system, another attacking midfielder is a must. That player needs to be crafty, quick on the turn, capable of running with the ball at his feet, a savvy passer, and able to contribute to the scoresheet – especially as Arsenal ranked ninth for goals and 12th for chances created in the Premier League last season.

Shrewd purchases for the Gunners to consider

Headlining the list of potential attacking midfielders to target could well be Ruslan Malinovskyi. The 28-year-old Ukrainian has been superb for the upstart Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini’s hyper-aggressive tutelage. Last season, he averaged 1.4 dribbles, 2.2 key passes, and 1.9 shots on goal per game. Malinovskyi’s bravery in possession resulted in ten goals and 12 assists through 43 games last season, building on his nine goals and seven assists in the season prior.

You’d think that as Atalanta are the third-favourites in the betting to win the wide-open Serie A at 37/4, with Juventus odds-off favourites at 28/25, they’d be tough to deal with; but as shown by the recent sales of Musa Barrow, Amad Diallo, Timothy Castagne, and former talisman Papu Gómez, the small-market club is an amicable negotiator. Another plus for Malinovskyi is that he can play anywhere in midfield well.

Next on the list is Eintracht Frankfurt’s attacking pivot, Daichi Kamada. The 24-year-old has six goal contributions from 13 caps for Japan and, for the mid-to-Europa bound Bundesliga club, netted five goals and teed up 15 more in the league last season. With an average of 1.0 dribbles per game, Kamada is a more conservative option, but his 1.8 key passes and 1.5 tackles prove that he can win the ball and thread the needle.

Finally, a former favourite at the Bernabéu could be claimed to continue Arsenal’s ongoing string of successful negotiations with Real Madrid. Isco fell out of favour when Zinedine Zidane returned to his post, with the Benalmádena-native averaging a mere 38 minutes per game across 29 appearances last season.

He – and his fellow Los Blancos – missed a space at Euro 2020, but the 29-year-old is now in his prime and would benefit from a new environment. Throughout his career, Isco has averaged high figures for dribbling, key passes, and passing accuracy, and has earned a reputation as a hard worker in the opposing end. So, perhaps Arsenal could secure the tricky Spaniard for a bargain price and reinvigorate his career.

It’s always tough to point to players who could be released for reduced prices, especially when a Premier League club comes knocking, but Malinovskyi, Kamada, and Isco all look to be potential bargain buys who would suit Arteta’s current system.