Arsenal and Isco: Go big or go home, right?

Arsenal will need to replace Aaron Ramsey, and given the star-power that he wields, it’s go big or go home… so, is it crazy to start talking about Isco?

Arsenal‘s attacking midfield range is suddenly less sure than it once was. Go back to last February and it couldn’t have been more sure – Mesut Ozil had just signed a new deal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan had just arrived and Aaron Ramsey was a masterclass waiting to happen.

This year, things have changed considerably. Ramsey is leaving. There is nothing that can change that, so it seems. Despite doing so much for the club over the past decade, for whatever reason, Unai Emery just doesn’t want him.

Fair game, that still leaves Mkhitaryan and Ozil. Both of whom have hit that ripe age of 30. Mkhitaryan has not been good this year. In fact, it has been his worst year ever. Things have not gotten better and many are wondering just how long the Armenian is destined to have a role here.

Ozil is the only only one making a claim for a consistent role, but things got a bit murky when he was held out against Bournemouth, and they have been murky previously.

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Not to mention the clashing style of Ozil and Emery.

All this to say, the star power that was packed into this position isn’t looking nearly as sure as it once was. But to take this as a big picture problem, that is a lot of talent to juggle and a lot to risk losing. Meaning that, to replace it, you’d require something pretty extraordinary. Hell, to replace even one of them would require someone pretty special.

That’s where Isco comes into the picture. Again. My long-time dream move has re-emerged as a potential transfer link for Unai Emery, a countryman of the Real Madrid midfielder, and the fit is pretty obvious.

He could replace any one of those three. I’d say he could replace two of those three. But if we are talking about straight-up replacing one of our most prolific talents in Aaron Ramsey, then we have to go big, right? Young exciting talents are one thing, but finding someone who is reliable should be the first objective, and Isco is nothing if not reliable.

Of course, the problem would be cost, which could drive upwards of £60m. And yet, when you consider all of the problems that he could potentially solve, before they even develop as problems, is that such a ridiculous price? I don’t think so.