The Best Potential Signings for Arsenal amongst the Relegation-Battlers
As the season draws to its conclusion, attention turns to how Arsenal can build on the promising progress made under Mikel Arteta. The budget is supposedly limited, relatively speaking, so the club may be tempted to pillage the best talent from further down the league. Here we look at the best talent available amongst the Premier League relegation candidates and how they could improve Arsenal’s ‘problem’ positions.
Todd Cantwell
Cantwell’s form has somewhat tailed off from his early season contributions, but at just 22-years-old there remains plenty of potential. Arteta may feel under his tutelage and playing amongst a higher standard squad, he will be able to iron out the inconsistencies in Cantwell’s game and help him to achieve his top level. A return of six goals and 2 assists may not immediately suggest a game-changing player for Arsenal but his contributions in a seriously poor Norwich side should not be dismissed.
He would certainly be eager to succeed at the club with reports he was a boyhood Arsenal fan. Indeed, he celebrated his goal against Tottenham Hotspur this season by shushing our North London rivals – Cantwell could quickly win fans over with such an approach. A reported £30 million price-tag would be relatively cheap for a young English talent and his creative abilities could help to plug the gap left by the seemingly outgoing Mesut Ozil.
Abdoulaye Doucoure
Abdoulaye Doucoure, another player with Arsenal sympathies, sees Patrick Vieira as his role model and from his style of play there are distinct similarities. A powerful box-to-box presence, Doucoure is equally adept in attack and defence and has spoken openly about developing these twin qualities in order to emulate Vieira who he describes as ‘the perfect midfielder’. He may not be at the legendary midfielder’s level but a return of 17 goals and 11 assists across 127 Premier League matches is highly respectable for a player who ostensibly plays in defensive midfield.
Watford are now a strong favourite to go down, as Aston Villa rose above them with a win over Arsenal, with current odds of 2/7 to be relegated in the Premier League – Relegation Odds. Whether they survive or not, Doucoure may feel that it is time to move on from Watford and at 27-years-old, Arsenal may represent the perfect platform from which to progress. His physicality could add a new element to a sometimes feeble Arsenal midfield.
Nathan Ake
Despite encouraging recent performances, doubts still persist over the capabilities of David Luiz so Arsenal may be tempted to sign another shaggy-haired centre-back in Nathan Ake. The Dutch defender has been heavily linked to Manchester City but the deal is far from official. Paul Merson has pushed for Ake to be signed to form part of a three-man defence describing him as a ‘really good player’ with pace that the Arsenal backline certainly lacks. With Bournemouth’s Premier League status hanging by a thread, now may represent the perfect time for Arsenal to bag a bargain which may remedy their defensive woes.
There are a number of other high-quality players at relegation-threatened clubs, most notably creative midfielder Jack Grealish, however, these three players could help to solve the most pressing issues in the Arsenal side. Cantwell and Ake, in particular, would provide youth and give Arteta the opportunity to mould their games in his own image. Arsenal fans can be optimistic this summer that a few key pieces will be added to a rapidly improving squad.
