Arsenal: One transfer target from each Serie A club

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma look on before the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between AS Roma and KAA Gent at Stadio Olimpico on February 20, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma look on before the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between AS Roma and KAA Gent at Stadio Olimpico on February 20, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images) /

Roma

Chris Smalling is the perfect defender for Arsenal’s needs, and the rumors reflect that.

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No, not really. Smalling is a terrible idea and you couldn’t pay me to take him. Ignore those rumors. And Henrikh Mkhitaryan doesn’t count either. Who I want to point to is Lorenzo Pellegrini, because who else would I point to given the massive void of creating chances at the club.

As it stands, our top assister on the year is Bukayo Saka, who’s a teenager playing out of position. We’ve had just about no support coming from the midfield, and Pellegrini is an immediate fix to that. He’s your typical Italian pass-master, creating three chances a match. This isn’t just an idle number though, it translates to a goal and ten assists in Serie A and the Europa League combined. That’s a dream for the Gunners because right now, it’s an impossibility.

In addition, he’s a solid dribbler, he isn’t afraid to shoot, and he gets dispossessed less than once per match. While he’s not a huge defensive presence, he’s no slouch either.

All things point to him being an immediate hit at the No. 10 position, if Mikel Arteta wants to go for a straight replacement.