Arsenal: Top 3 near-relegated players to target

2. Emi Buendia

Norwich City might end up being the best team in Premier League history to finish last. Daniel Farke’s side has been a refreshing, enjoyable watch, routinely pushing some of the best teams in the league extremely close with an attacking, attractive brand of football. And Emi Buendia is at the heart of it.

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

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder would be the ideal replacement for Mesut Ozil, something that Arsenal must think about this summer or the next. He is a smart, nuanced, drifting attacker who can play out wide or in central positions. He mirrors Ozil’s flair and creativity, while also offering greater quickness and a higher work-rate.

Only Kevin de Bruyne, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Riyad Mahrez have created more chances and provided more assists this season. Only Wilfried Zaha and Adama Traore have completed more successful dribbles in 2019/20. And he makes 2.8 tackles and 0.8 interceptions, two figures that highlight his defensive industry.

Buendia would be the modern version of Ozil that Arsenal have needed all season. And with focus shifted to other players in the Norwich team, mostly local boy Todd Cantwell, right-back Max Aarons, and underdog story Teemu Pukki, he might just be available on the cheap, too.