Towards the end of the January transfer window, Arsenal looked frantically to sign a midfielder. The players the Gunners were linked with were options that should not be considered in the summer transfer window.
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the Gunners will try to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo this summer after failing with a January bid. However, it is a deal Edu should look to avoid.
Arthur would’ve been a decent loan option until the end of the season to plug the midfield gaps. But to sign him ahead of next season is not the right path, as there are better options for Mikel Arteta.
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Arsenal were interested in signing Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus in January, and it even got to the point where the players’ agent Federico Pastorello had travelled to the English capital to outline his client's desire to join the Gunners, according to Gazzetta dello Sport . However, a deal was difficult to complete as Juventus needed to find a replacement for the Brazilian, and when this was completed, they demanded an 18-month loan deal to sell Arthur.
While Edu was eventually willing to agree to an 18-month loan move, the Arsenal hierarchy was not according to The Athletic . This ultimately prevented the Gunners from signing a midfielder in the January transfer window.
If the hierarchy had doubts about bringing the Brazilian for an extended amount of time in January, then this opinion should be replicated over the summer also. This opinion should be further strengthened when you consider the better options that are out there.
Italian news outlet Calciomercato have also reported that the Gunners are also keen on signing Aouar in the summer. The midfielder has changed his agent which could be a deal changer from the previous attempt to sign the midfielder, and he would certainly be a better option than Arthur.
The Lyon man managed seven goals from midfield in 30 league games last season. This was more than the goals scored in the league by Arsenal’s central midfield combined last season (5).
Arsenal need to strengthen in the number eight role, and Aouar’s creative abilities gives him the edge over signing Melo. The Frenchman’s mobility is also superior, which is needed in this position, as Grant Xhaka has been the starter in the role but has been held back by his inability to quickly cover different areas of the pitch.
Ruben Neves is also another midfielder who has been linked to the club, and would be a better alternative to Arthur. Neves would be the perfect solution to Arsenal’s shortages, as he is a composed midfielder who handles the basics excellently, and aside from an occasional marvellous free-kick, he is usually not the type of player to feature on a headline. He has plenty of Premier League experience and has shown that he is capable of competing with the best clubs in the land.
Arthur certainly would have been a good January transfer window signing on a short-term deal until the end of the season. However, with this time in the past, it is also time for Arsenal to enhance their transfer targets especially if Arteta’s side qualify for Champions League football next season.
