Arsenal: 12 Granit Xhaka transfer replacements

Florian Neuhaus – Borussia Mönchengladbach

How wonderful it would be to have prime Santi Cazorla back in the Arsenal midfield? The stuff of dreams. The Spaniard can never be replaced but there are those with an air of The Magician about them. Funnily enough, one of those is over at Xhaka’s former club.

Florian Neuhaus has got to be up there among the prime midfield targets. This is a player suited to Arsenal’s needs and with precious few flaws to his game. He is a special talent and Liverpool are already eyeing him up as their Georginio Wijnaldum replacement. Here’s why.

Neuhaus is smart. Clever in every action, prior to the receiving the ball, before releasing the ball and upon shifting possession. Picking up the ball from deep his body shape is always lined up for the half-turn, where he boasts the inventiveness to pick out a pass from any range. No ball is out of bounds for him whether through a body of opposition players or lofted over.

Operating on the left side of a midfield pair, the 24-year-old racks up an npxG+xA of 0.23, largely coming from his well-timed support in attack either with the occasional run into the box or picking up possession on the edge of the 18-yard area where has a penchant for shooting.

As far as building out, he averages 5.83 progressive passes per 90 (86th percentile) and 0.3 through balls (93rd percentile) but it’s his incredible composure under pressure which make him a line breaking master. Such calmness and neat trickery means he can bypass the press with the ball at his feet or seek out a teammate with precision, making 10.82 passes under pressure on average which sits him in the 95th percentile.

He has no glaring weaknesses. Could he be faster? Yes, but so could Cazorla and that never severely hampered him. The architect of all the good Mönchengladbach do, Neuhaus and the Spaniard are not direct comparisons but there are unmistakable similarities in the way they can weave their way out of tight corners with a flick or pass.

This lad is an immense talent. One only getting better. Liverpool want him, so move quick, Arsenal.