Ask me what Arsenal are looking for, or rather what I think they should be looking for, this summer and immediately a competitor for Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka comes to mind in addition to a full-back, potential two if Kieran Tierney leaves, and a forward. My mind does not drum up the idea of another attacking midfielder.
Martin Odegaard, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe are all options for Mikel Arteta this season and the Norwegian and now club captain has played the majority of matches. Only in cup competitions have the others been given the chance although Smith Rowe has been injured for most of the season.
With this is mind, it is perhaps surprising then to see several links to a number of players who’d arguably rival the trio for a place in the team. One name that has begun to circulate is Celta Vigo’s, Gabri Veiga.
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The Spanish youth international won the February player of the month award for the Primera Division. He has nine goals and three assists and has helped the side up to ninth and nine points away from a European qualification spot.
However, would Veiga fit into Mikel Arteta’s side? Potentially, this is the short answer.
The long answer first looks at what his style is which for Celta Vigo has changed significantly since his early introductions into the team. He began deeper in the midfield but it became apparent very quickly that the attacking roles he’d played in the B-team were where his future lay.
He is not necessarily the type to be the spotter with defence-splitting passes through gaps like a Martin Odegaard and instead prefers to be a receiver, doing his damage whilst in possession of the ball. No surprise that Odegaard plays nearly double the amount of passes per game (51.9 > 31.7).
It increases further with passes into the box per 90 which Veiga attempts just over a third less than Odegaard (2.97 > 1.08). Of course, it is worth applying some context in the sense playing for Arsenal compared to Celta might open up greater opportunities for a player in the passing game.
However, even with this, it becomes apparent the stylistic preference of Veiga. In take-ons per 90, Veiga beats Odegaard (3.35 > 2.38), although the Norwegian is more successful in these moments (59% > 51.8%). Carries into the final third continues the story with Veiga (1.74 per 90) more frequently driving at the offensive third compared to Odegaard (1.68 per 90).
So, Veiga would offer Arteta a different type of midfielder. However, there’s perhaps scope for the Spaniard to be coached or grow into the successor to Granit Xhaka instead.
He has played in the '8 role' on the right for Celta but could always be seen to be malleable enough at his age to learn to operate on the left too. He is certainly showing a willingness to contribute defensively.
He averages 2.04 tackles per game compared to Odegaard’s 1.02. 1.2 blocks per game over the Arsenal captain’s 0.43, with interceptions per 90 also falling significantly in the Spaniard’s favour (0.84 > 0.16) and lastly winning more aerial duels to (58.3% > 37%).
There’s clear evidence then that the '8 role' is something that suits Veiga and perhaps this does open the door to a future with the Gunners. However, before anything Arsenal will need to win the race for the highlight coveted La Liga star with title rivals Manchester City said to also be keen.
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