Arsenal: The problem with a potential Denis Suarez transfer

Arsenal are still involved in transfer chatter with Denis Suarez, but there are new problems starting to pop up that make it a questionable move.

I have spent a good long time talking about how Arsenal can’t just let Aaron Ramsey go and not answer it with a reactionary move. Ideally they just won’t let him go, but if they, for whatever reason, just have to, then there has to be an answer.

Denis Suarez has been tossed around as a serious candidate to be that answer. The 24-year-old creative central midfielder has had trouble finding opportunity at Barcelona and they now look ready to make a “clean break” with the Spaniard, according to the Independent. Both Chelsea and our Gunners are in on the move, and for all intents and purposes, it makes sense why Unai Emery would be keen on his services.

While he doesn’t have any sort of outstanding numbers to boast about, he has always shown tremendous potential to do more, given the right opportunity. So in that regard, the move makes total sense, as you might even consider him as the catch-all solution to the pending struggles of Mkhitaryan and Ozil and the exit of Ramsey.

But the issue that is developing is the continued presence of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is just aching to get into the midfield, as well as the growing emergence of Emile Smith Rowe.

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The youth options at this club are certainly starting to make inroads, especially in that creative midfield set-up. They’ve been propped up more and more by the failures of Ozil and Mkhitaryan, but still, they’ve been pretty great in their own regard.

There could still be “room” if Ramsey, Mkhitaryan and Ozil were all to leave, but that outcome seems tremendously unlikely. And, in the wake of Ramsey’s dwindling relevance, I’m beginning to wonder if we need a full-blown replacement if we’re hardly even using him in any great capacity anymore.

Plus we have to consider Matteo Guendouzi, who is learning to be more and more reliable, both defensive and offensively, and what someone like Suarez chirping for playing time would do to his ongoing development.

We still have months to figure this out, but if things keep going in the direction they appear to be going, I’d much prefer trusting a Maitland-Niles and a Smith Rowe rather than investing in someone else’s potential.

Then again, you don’t want to leave anything up to chance. So if no young player looks absolutely ready for a bigger role by the time we can land Suarez, then perhaps it is the best possible option.