Arsenal Want Isco in January – A Subpar Stop-Gap

Pros and Cons of Isco Deal

Certain names incite certain emotions. If Isco’s name crops up then immediately we’re transported to the glamorous reaches of Real Madrid, where the milky white strip is adorned by some of the finest footballers in the world.

Isco could easily be the poster boy for Los Blancos…five years ago. He is now a shadow of his former self.

Purely from an ability standpoint, the Spaniard has been desperately poor for nearly three seasons. Taking stats at their absolute value isn’t always wise, yet when we’re dealing with a creative midfielder whose job it is to provide and score, 12 goal involvements in his last 78 matches doesn’t read well, and Madrid have better players for Isco to blend with than Arsenal.

Of course, he has been in and out of the team during this spell, but the reasons for that are none other than him being miles off the levels he produced midway through the decade.

Would he suit in Arsenal’s system? 4-3-3 is the setup that Madrid opt for and he’s comfortable drifting into wide zones and playing alongside two central midfielders. So, on that basis, yes. Equally, if it’s for six months with no obligation to purchase, bulking up the numbers in that area by 100% is both desired and essential.

Could he have an impact during that time? If he can’t make an impression in home matches against the likes of Real Valladolid, it’s tough to make an argument for him doing likewise against physically imposing opposition such as Burnley. He’d get bullied, and the adjustment period would be, possibly, the whole six months long.

There is basis behind Arteta’s thinking, even looking at the recent win over Brighton, where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made darting runs that weren’t picked out. Arsenal’s goal threat would increase dramatically with midfielders adept at sliding through those passes, thus someone known for his weight of pass, coming in on a short-term deal, makes absolute sense.

Isco isn’t world class, though. Not even close. He was, but he sure isn’t now.

The Spaniard needs a change of club to revitalise his career. Oftentimes, moves to the right clubs can galvanise a player ten-fold, rediscovering the talent they always had and catapulting them into the limelight.

Isco has played twice for Spain in two years, even Dani Ceballos has featured more. Bring him in to Arsenal by all means Arteta, just don’t expect him to pull up trees.