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Arsenal: Top 3 long-term solutions to the creative midfield problem

By Josh Sippie

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa during the Carabao Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 1, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa during the Carabao Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 1, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Jack Grealish (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Jack Grealish (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

Arsenal’s midfield situation is going to need some help this summer, so here are the three guys we should look at in the event we don’t keep Dani Ceballos.

Ever since Mikel Arteta took over Arsenal, he’s been investing a lot of time and faith in Mesut Ozil, despite a real lack of end product being delivered from the German. In all likelihood, Ozil will be on his way out the door this summer, and that will leave Arteta with a great big open opportunity to change how this creative midfield looks.

He doesn’t have to stick with a No. 10. He could go with a traditional midfield three, a 4-4-2, or he could go with a straight swap for Ozil and stick with the No. 10. The options are all there, but we don’t exactly have the personnel to create the kinds of chances and provide that added threat to goal that we need from this midfield.

That’s been true ever since Aaron Ramsey left. Between Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, we have next to nothing going forward. Joe Willock and Emile Smith Rowe are fun options, and Dani Ceballos may still be a viable threat, but if we want to really move forward, we have to get a goal threat in this midfield.

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So let’s talk three options, all at least semi-linked to the club. We’ll start with No. 3.

3. Orkun Kokcu

Orkun Kokcu probably has the strongest link to Arsenal, but he’s also the shakiest in terms of reliability. With two goals and four assists across domestic and European competitions over in the Netherlands, the stats suggest the potential for a breakout from this 19-year-old.

But if we’re looking at him to be the creative midfield solution, that might be a big ask. He’s still young, he’s only just breaking through. Yet his price dictates that he’s more than just a prospect.

That makes it difficult. You have to admire the signing one way or the other, but hopefully Arteta has it in mind to bring in an additional option to alleviate some of the pressure this would put on Kokcu.

One such option comes in at No. 2.

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