Arsenal: 3 Creative Alternatives to Dominik Szoboszlai & Houssem Aouar

Julian Brandt – Borussia Dortmund

Few players in the Bundesliga are quite as versatile as Julian Brandt. This season alone he’s featured as both a left and right-winger, a centre-forward, and attacking midfielder and in a more regular central midfield role.

Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t quite managed to nail down a regular starting berth under Lucien Favre since joining from Bayer Leverkusen at the start of last season. He’s started seven of Dortmund’s 16 matches this season, registering just one assist in the league.

Someone who thrives operating in the inside spaces, he fits the bill of Arsenal wanting a creative force who can drift wide and operate on the flanks. If Arteta went for a 4-3-3 formation, Brandt would slot into that midfield trio and play in a vein similar to that of Bukayo Saka where he’s granted freedom to drift into pockets and let his creative capabilities sing.

Also a relentless presser of the ball, it’s his goal contributions that are weighing him down. 22 in 58 outings for Die Borussen is by no means poor, but more was expected of him when he signed for €25m.

https://twitter.com/JulianBrandt/status/1332081076395708418

In a team littered with attacking options – Thorgan Hazard, Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus, Giovanni Reyna, Reinier and now Youssoufa Moukoko – the chances for Brandt to nail down his place in the starting lineup are more daunting.

Question marks remain over how suited he is to the Premier League, and he wouldn’t come too cheap, but his age profile matches what Arsenal need. An option, for sure.