Arsenal: Jose Mourinho eyes shock Granit Xhaka transfer

What Happens to the Arsenal Midfield?

Jumping the gun here, if Partey and Elneny stay with Bissouma brought in and Willock and Xhaka leaving, that means Arsenal will head into the Africa Cup of Nations tournament with Miguel Azeez as their only midfielder. Maybe Charlie Patino can be jumped up.

As fans it’s a personal point of view on what lies ahead. In many ways it’s frightening to envisage such wholesale changes, even those conducted by experienced operators and not the rookies Arsenal have in charge, yet equally this is exciting. Everyone will see it differently.

Change is afoot and with the original plan being to gut out the senior core who had failed to maintain consistency and regularly let their managers down, the ball shouldn’t stop rolling with Xhaka.

Without strong links to any midfielders other than Bissouma, it can be interesting to see what happens over the summer. It’s still early days and with talks ongoing for Xhaka to leave before the window even opens, that leaves plenty of room to maneuver across the summer transfer window.

It also means more money (£18m does seem like undercutting it, especially with Roma packing some financial heat) that can be injected directly into the squad.

Arsenal can do better than Xhaka. Whether they will is another matter. But nonetheless, if it’s going to be a fresh start then make it so. Truly transform this squad and make it one fans can unite behind.

Bid farewell to Xhaka.