Arsenal: The 3 players to form dream central midfield

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MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 23: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Thomas Teye Partey of Atletico de Madrid controls the ball during the Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal CF at Wanda Metropolitano on February 23, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alejandro Rios/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

Arsenal will attempt to restructure their central midfield in the upcoming transfer window. Here are the three players to form the dream unit.

Arsenal’s central midfield has been problematic all season long. The players used there have combined for only two goals and seven assists in the Premier League, failed to provide the necessary protection in front of the back four, and now need serious upgrading, as has been widely reported in recent weeks. But how might Arsenal’s dream central midfield look like should everything go to plan this summer?

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Here are the three players who can form the ideal central midfield for the Gunners next season.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal celebrates after his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on March 07, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images ) /

3. Dani Ceballos

Dani Ceballos has spent the year on loan at Arsenal. At least to some extent, he is a part of the problem. But while the collective midfield has struggled to provide offensive output and control of matches, on an individual basis, there is plenty of reason to believe that Ceballos can be an invaluable piece of a modern central midfield system.

Ceballos’ passing numbers are excellent. Within the Arsenal squad, excluding those that have played fewer than 700 minutes, all per 90 minutes, he ranks fourth in progressive passes, first in passes into the penalty area, first in passes into the final third, third in chances created, and sixth in pass completion percentage. He also ranks fourth in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, which is an action (dribble, pass, foul won) within two actions before a shot is taken, and fourth in goal-creating actions per 90, defined in the same way but in the build-up to goal rather than a shot.

Defensively, he is active. Only Gabriel Martinelli pressed more than him per 90 minutes. No player attempted more tackles or won more tackles per 90. Meanwhile, of central midfielders, only Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira averaged more interceptions per 90. Pushed higher up the pitch, Ceballos has all the capabilities to be the ideal creative, box-to-box half-eight that Arsenal require.

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