Arsenal: Putting the final fork in the Isco transfer dream

Arsenal have long flirted with the idea of adding Isco, but given the present circumstance, it may finally be time to accept this will never happen.

For those of you that have followed us here at Pain in the Arsenal for awhile, you may remember that before my fascination with Granit Xhaka, before my crusade for Olivier Giroud, before my annoyed shade-throwing at Karim Benzema, there was my dream transfer – Isco.

To me, nothing would have fit what Arsenal needed more than the creative Spaniard. He could play from deep and be the next Santi Cazorla, or play alongside him, as they had done at Malaga. He could be a box-to-box or a No. 10, a creator, a defender, and pivot.

Isco was the catch-all midfield solution, capable of doing whatever needed to be done. And in a midfield like Arsenal’s was (and still is) with so many question marks, splurging on someone like Isco just made sense. Only that this was before the days of the Gunners actually spending a lot of money.

It made so much sense for awhile, as his inability to find a starting spot under Zinedine Zidane left him flustered, despite Zidane being one of his idols. That, gradually, gave way to a starting spot though.

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Now 25 years old, Isco ranks in as one of the best and brightest midfielders in world football who is still capable of filling so many roles, central and wide.

The reports out of the Sun of his supposed desire to leave are saying the same things they always have – he fears his time is too limited, etc etc. More of the same. But this time around, the Gunners aren’t even in the picture. Manchester City is, but not Arsenal.

And isn’t it clear why? The last thing, the absolute last thing that the Gunners need is someone else who wants to be a No. 10. Isco’s primary position is as a No. 10, though in the interest of maintaining some semblance of hope, let me just say that he may be better as a box-to-box midfielder.

That said, if Jack Wilshere is to leave, then Isco suddenly becomes more apparently attractive, but for the sake of this latest rumor, if Pep Guardiola wants to dump £75m on the guy and break more records, I question the Gunner’s ability to match.

Next: 3 Reasons Mohamed Elneny Contract Matters

All this said, maybe I’m just trying a bit of reverse psychology. After so many articles praising how this move was going to happen, maybe me finally sticking a fork in it will be what it takes to get it over the finish line.

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