Arsenal: Mario Lemina can be the mobile Granit Xhaka

Arsenal have been named as a potential landing spot for Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina. The 25-year-old could become a more mobile Granit Xhaka.

Arsenal have plenty of needs to address this summer, and judging by their early business and bids made, it seems as though the three main priorities are wing, left-back and centre-back.

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However, such is the lacking quality in the squad that there are plenty of other problems that required investment this summer, like reserve right-back, a third-choice centre-forward, another defender, and, most pressingly, serious improvements in the central midfield, especially over the cumbersome Granit Xhaka and in the stead of the now departed Aaron Ramsey.

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You could make some arguments that central midfield is the greatest need of the team, such is the importance of the position, but with incumbent options already in place, its importance slips a little in comparison to more barren areas of the squad. Nevertheless, if there is the opportunity to sign a brighter central midfield to aid the post-Ramsey era and potentially replace Xhaka, Arsenal should not hesitate to take advantage. And this week, it has surfaced that they might be doing precisely that.

As widely reported throughout the media on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the Gunners have been named as a potential landing spot for Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina, as well as top-four rivals Manchester United. Lemina, who struggled with injuries last season and slid out of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s thinking at St. Mary’s, is a mobile, calm and composed midfielder who played at Juventus prior to Southampton and was extremely impressive prior to being hit by injuries.

At his best, the 26-year-old is a very tidy player. He boasts a terrific passing range, is comfortable with receiving the ball under pressure and can dribble clear of high-pressing defenders, and possesses a greater athleticism and power that many, more technically minded midfielders cannot replicate.

He has not always performed at his best, a combination of injuries, inconsistency and reported character concerns undermining his talent. But if he was to fulfil his potential, he could certainly provide a similar metronomic influence as Xhaka does, but allied with a greater mobility and dynamism that so often holds the Swiss international back.

Xhaka is a solid central midfielder who value has been proven in his absence, but his limited athleticism and lack of defensive nous have continually been an issue, and even three years into his time at the Emirates, they still remain a major shortcoming. Lemina is not a better player now, but he has the tools to far succeed Xhaka.

All this for £18 million? That is the kind of deal that Arsenal should be jumping at. Lemina is not perfect, of course, but he has the tools that deserve taking a risk on. He can be a more mobile Xhaka, and betting £18 million on that being the case is a smart move.