Arsenal: 3 reasons Ruben Neves should not be signed

2. Ruben Neves Would Not Fit in At Arsenal

Whenever Wolves see more of the ball, they lose. They are not a possession-based side and that suits Neves down to a tee.

It’s important to note that Neves is a very talented midfielder. What he would bring to Arsenal is what he would bring to any side: game-stretching long balls, wicked set piece delivery and sumptuous raking diagonals.

However, an Arsenal side that wants to have the ball all of the time and play high up the pitch eliminates many of Neves’ better traits. It’s about close triangles, side-to-side partnerships and progression through the thirds. None of that suits Neves’ style. It doesn’t play into his strengths.

He barely ever plays short, completing just 14.02 short passes per 90 minutes, putting him in the lowly 24th percentile for midfielders across Europe. His 88.2% short pass completion (36th percentile) and 89.3% medium pass completion (53rd percentile) aren’t the most endearing. Wolves soak up and break, Arsenal build and create.

There is always scope to develop as a player, absorb new ideas and embed yourself into new systems, but this isn’t the time to be doing that. Not for £35m and not when a 38-game season is all that matters.

What exactly would Neves improve in the team? Say he’s a Xhaka replacement, then the progressive passing numbers drop (he’s in the 65th percentile) and mobility issues remain. He has superb qualities but his arrival wouldn’t make Arsenal faster, stronger, more progressive, more defensively assured or more threatening in the final third.

A top player who isn’t the right fit. The team won’t improve anywhere near enough to warran £35m being spent on him.