Arsenal and Ever Banega: If only it was five years ago

Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Ever Banega throughout the past week. And in Argentina’s win over Nigeria on Tuesday, the midfielder showed precisely what he is capable of. If only it was five years ago.

It surfaced about a week ago. New Arsenal head coach Unai Emery wanted to dip into what he knew to bolster a midfield that needed help before it lost both Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.

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Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega, who had helped steer the Spanish club to three successive Europa Leagues during Emery’s tenure — he was only at the club for the second two but made a substantial difference to the midfield –, was the man that Emery had identified as the man he needed. It made sense. Emery believed that the midfield needed another option, he understands precisely what Banega can provide, and he saw the two fit together nicely.

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When the news initially broke, I was not especially bowled over. It was not that Banega was a bad player who couldn’t help Arsenal at a crucial position. Rather, he wasn’t a special signing, and I either wanted no signing and a commitment to youth or a special signing, not just a player who is good and helps the team but doesn’t offer that real and significant upgrade on what is already in the squad. And that is what Banega is.

I still believe that. But I must admit that his performance for Argentina in their last-gasp, qualification-securing 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday turned my head. The central midfielder was excellent. Playing to the left side of a midfield three, it was Banega who frequently broke the lines of Nigeria, threading those game-breaking passes that bypassed defenders, rather than just playing sideways and backwards, including a lovely, pin-point assist for Lionel Messi’s traditionally jaw-dropping goal.

He was busy defensively as well, winning four of the six tackles he attempted, making an interception, a clearance and two blocks. This was a complete, well-rounded midfield performance that Arsenal could have greatly used last season.

Now, this is lazy analysis of me. No player should ever be fully evaluated based on one game or one moment, no matter how impressive it might have been. And my opinion of Banega, on the whole, has not changed. Rather, he has shown that he is capable of more than I perhaps first realised. He is more than solid, if still falling short of the spectacular, however.

But there is still a problem. Banega will turn 30 in two days, June 29th. My main issue with his potential acquisition rested on the fact that I saw him as a progress stopper for the likes of Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohamed Elneny. That thinking was largely based on his quality. Perhaps that was wrong. But his age still results in the same issue.

Next: Arsenal: 3 players Caglar Soyuncu could spell end of

How long can Arsenal really eek the very best out of Banega? How many times can he perform like he did against Nigeria over the next two or three years? I think that we all know the answers to those questions, and they’re not especially positive. If it only this was five years ago…