Arsenal: 5 reasons to love the Ivan Perisic transfer rumors

2. He doesn’t block anyone

I’m sold on this concept of bringing up Joe Willock and Emile Smith Rowe and Xavier Amaechi and Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson and letting them run the show. Let the youth sink or swim, they have to learn on their feet, it will be a fantastic learning experience.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

But how valuable would it be to have someone like Perisic, who has been in all of the roles these youngsters will play in, showing them the ropes? How wonderful to have them not just trekking out into darkness, but doing so under the careful eyes of a seasoned professional who can teach with his actions as much as his words?

This is a double up on him being so versatile too. Being able to move across positions, he’ll really never be in danger of blocking anyone. He can shift and accommodate whichever youth options Unai Emery wants to employ on any given day and maybe Perisic doesn’t even start. That’s fine too.

The point is, the youth option is a great one, but having an experienced someone who can step in and duck out of so many different roles would serve so many uses in the present and the future.

Moving on to No. 1.