Arsenal’s Marcel Sabitzer transfer invitation at RB Leipzig

Should Arsenal Move for Marcel Sabitzer?

There is very little not to like about Sabitzer. Unless you’re not a fan of pony tails or a Tottenham supporter, you’ll likely be as enamoured as everyone else when it comes to the Austrian’s profile.

However, let’s start with the negatives.

£36m is probably a good place to kick things off since it’s a figure Arsenal, you’d imagine, can’t spare without Champions League football next season. While it’s fairly high considering the circumstances, with the volume of interest due to kick start a bidding war it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go for a fee around that.

Next on the list is age. Is it really a negative to have just turned 27 years old? Not really, as this is often deemed the prime stage of most footballers’ careers. Which club doesn’t want an already superb footballer in the peak of their career? Possibly one undertaking a rebuild that has just recently gone out and bought a 27-year-old.

It depends on what Arteta is after, of course. If you want talent that will instantly improve your squad, then he’s your man.

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Where would he play, though? He doesn’t have any one position in this Leipzig team, featuring in almost every role across the pitch from wing-back to centre-forward. The vast majority of his career has been spent at right-winger but from the second half of last season onwards he’s been moved into central midfield.

Nagelsmann chops and changes his setup depending on the opposition, but when opting for a 4-2-3-1 he has Sabitzer as one of the midfield pivot who has freedom to express. Boy does he flex his muscles.

Sabitzer is a relentless presser of the ball, with his high-octane approach and outstanding work-rate one of the main reasons why he dons the armband for his club. In terms of vision, his playmaking ability is exceptional be it from early crosses to eye of the needle through balls and everything in between. He’s RB Leipzig’s engine as well as the diamond-encrusted custom rims.

What Arsenal also sorely lack is goals from midfield. Sabitzer has a thunderous shot on him, be it from set-pieces or while on the move, and he can do so with either foot: his 16 goals last season have been added to with seven this term, while he’s also recorded 17 assists during that time.

Tactically astute and professional in his approach, he’d fit in most midfields on the continent. Even if asked to play on the left of a double midfield pivot at Arsenal or eventually as one of a midfield three, he’d do an excellent job. And that’s what you get with Sabitzer: versatility with consistency.