Arsenal: The 3 players to form dream central midfield

1. Houssem Aouar

In the search for a modern version of Mesut Ozil, a creative midfielder who also possesses the athleticism, overall controlling influence, and defensive work-rate that is required in the modern game, Arsenal might just find the perfect man by returning to Ligue and Lyon: Houssem Aouar might just be ideal.

The Lyon midfielder is only 21. In just under 2,000 Ligue 1 minutes this season, he scored three goals and added four assists. Last season, he scored seven and assisted seven. He maintained a pass completion just short of 85% and completed 2.98 of his 4.77 dribbles attempts per 90, good for a 62.5% success rate. He also added one goal and three assists in only 445 Champions League minutes.

Aouar would not come cheap, but pairing him with Ceballos as two half-eights would provide Arsenal with a controlling, technically gifted, creative pair of midfielders who can score goals and provide the foundation for the offensive players in the final third. Nicolas Pepe, for example, would thrive off the ball carrying and creativity of the pair.

Flanking a deep-lying Partey who provides that imposing physical presence allied with superb distribution and you have the dream central midfield for Mikel Arteta to build his Arsenal team around.