The Heart of Arsenal’s problem
Fans and those interested in Arsenal are well aware that turnover in the squad was needed and although it has already begun, there is still more room for improvement. One such area is the center of midfield as was recently highlighted in the Manchester City match at the weekend but also throughout many performances where Arsenal have lacked the presence of Thomas Partey.
As things stand going into the summer, Arsenal have 2 or at most 3 certainties in center midfield options for next season. Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey will be key to Arteta’s plans with possible uncertainty over Mohamed Elneny’s future. Elsewhere, Dani Ceballos’ second loan move from Real Madrid will end with only glimpses of quality and consistency shown but far too irregular. Matteo Guendouzi will return from Hertha Berlin with his relationship with Arteta frosty as many are aware, while Lucas Torreira will also return from Atletico Madrid having made only 3 starts in the league amongst 394 minutes with reports each year of a return to Italy. One could feasibly see at least 2 if not 3 of Guendouzi, Torreira or Elneny moving on in the summer leaving a hole in the squad. In addition, many may point to Miguel Azeez however it is likely he will receive sporadic game time.
With the issue highlighted, what is it that Arteta will look for? One of the largest issues with Partey’s absence is the lack of progressive dribbling and ability to receive the ball on the half-turn with Saka and Odegaard dropping very deep against City to receive on the turn. While Xhaka does aid the team with progressive distance from passing it doesn’t have the same impact as the press resistance of Thomas Partey. Ideally, Arteta may look for a progressive dribbler but also an alternate ‘6’ to share some of the burden with Xhaka in that role.
Denis Zakaria
One alternative to Xhaka in the deeper position is Borussia Monchengladbach star, Denis Zakaria. With manager Marco Rose having announced last week that he will be taking over at Borussia Dortmund it may leave uncertainty amongst Gladbach ranks and could cause players to seek a change of scenery. Zakaria is a 24-year-old destroyer from Geneva, Switzerland who can also cover at center half if needed. Like Partey, he’s had missed games through injury – however, his was a long-term one from March which he returned from in November.
Comparing their statistics from across the last two seasons, Zakaria is similar with 87 tackles (Partey’s 97, Xhaka 80) however with 43 in the middle third to Partey’s 42 and both having 6 in the attacking third. Zakaria impressively has a 44.2% success rate of tackles against dribbles (Partey’s 42.7%, Xhaka’s 39.6%) along with 33.7% successful pressures (Partey’s 33.1%, Xhaka’s 27.5%). What makes him a good comparison to Xhaka is his pass completion of 87.3% to Xhaka’s 88.4% (Partey 84.5%) however Zakaria does have an 82.6% long pass completion as opposed to Xhaka’s 80.4%. Zakaria has 10 yellow cards in the last 2 seasons in the league, with Xhaka and Partey having 15 and 17 respectively, showing a level of discipline. Valued at £36 million according to Transfermarkt with his contract up in 2022 he could be an option.
Manuel Locatelli
Locatelli is a 23-year-old sitter from Lecco, Italy currently plying his trade for Sassuolo. Having broken through as a prospect at AC Milan then signing on loan at Sassuolo he made the switch permanent in 2019. Sassuolo are a possession-based team under Roberto De Zerbi who had a strong start to the season but have stuttered since. Locatelli is much more of a sitter as compared to Zakaria. Locatelli has 52 appearances in the league in the last 2 seasons to Xhaka’s 54 – however, both have a different role.
Locatelli has completed 146 tackles in that time (Partey 97, Xhaka 80) with 57 having come in the defensive third and 72 in the middle third. He has a tackle success rate against dribbles of 39.5% (Xhaka 39.6%, Partey 42.7%) however this could be attributed to Sassuolo’s high pressing and weaker midfield options. The Italian has an 86.7% pass completion with 91.9% short passing (Xhaka 90.3%) however only 69.7% long pass (Xhaka 80.4%). Locatelli does however create 3.03 shots per 90 from passes (Xhaka 1.42, Partey 1.81). Locatelli is valued at £31.5 million according to Transfermarkt with his contract up in 2023 and could well be a foil to Partey.
Aurelien Tchoumeni
Tchoumeni is a much rougher suggestion/prospect. He is a 21-year-old who came through the Bordeaux academy and signed for Monaco in January 2020. Like Partey, Tchoumeni plays between a 6 and 8 role having made an appearance in all but 1 of Monaco’s games this season. Using the same parameters as previously he has played fewer minutes across the last 2 seasons as Partey and Xhaka, however, come out impressively. Firstly he has 112 tackles ( Partey 97, Xhaka 80) with 50 in the middle third and 14 in the attacking third. He is weaker in the successful tackles against dribbles with a 34.2% success rate however he does have a 66.7% aerial duel success (Partey 63.4%, Xhaka 51.9%) and has notched up 63 interceptions (Partey 37, Xhaka 25). Possession-wise he has the lowest pass completion of those mentioned in the article at 84.4%. Although, with a 69.3% long pass completion, 1.58 shot-creating actions/90 (Partey 1.81, Xhaka 1.42), and 73% success rate with dribbles it suggests he is adventurous with possession. Not to mention he also has the highest distance carried per dribble of the 3. Tchoumeni is still only 21 with a small sample size but priced at £14.4 million and contract until 2024, he may be worth a risk.
Florian Neuhaus
Finally, Florian Neuhaus, Neuhaus like Zakaria is part of the Monchengladbach side which have been so impressive in the Champions League this season and as a bonus have drawn Manchester City so we get the opportunity to see how Zakaria and Neuhaus will perform. If Zakaria is the sitter then Neuhaus is much more forward-thinking in his midfield role but not the attacking midfielder per-say. Neuhaus is a product of the 1860 Munich academy who joined Gladbach in 2017. Recently capped by Germany with 3 appearances so far for Die Mannschaft and with 8 G/A in the league for the 23-year-old, so far, he looks exciting.
Firstly, defensively as you can imagine is not Neuhaus’ strength with a 24.5% success rate against dribbles however has notched up 80 tackles in the last 2 seasons the same as Xhaka along with 49 interceptions. The German has a 33.0% successful pressures rate (Partey 33.1%, Xhaka 27.5%) as a result of Marco Rose’s strong pressing style. Neuhaus has the highest progressive distance via dribbling of the 3 and 590 touches in the final third and 76 in the penalty area (Partey 442 & 18, Xhaka 549 & 27). These figures combined with his G/A and 2.78 Shot creating actions/90 suggest a midfielder who likes to arrive late to the penalty area, something missing for Arteta’s side. Valued at £34.20 million with the contract expiring in 2024, Neuhaus could be the forward-thinking midfielder for Arsenal to consider.
These are just some options that could stylistically fit Arsenal and fit the bracket of 23 or under. All stats are from FBREF with some help from Transfermarkt for values.