Arsenal should target John McGinn summer transfer
John McGinn Statistical Analysis for Arsenal
As per FBref.com, McGinn’s defensive output was nothing to write home about last season, averaging just 1.89 tackles, 1.12 interceptions and 1.03 blocks/90. While these statistics aren’t completely dissimilar to Xhaka’s, they are indeed significantly worse than those of other reported targets Yves Bissouma and Ruben Neves.
This may detract some fans, understandably, but it’s important that when Arsenal choose their preferred engine room targets for next season, they also remember that they did sign a world-class defensive midfielder in Thomas Partey a year ago. Playing alongside someone of Partey’s quality, McGinn could be unleashed, adding goals to a midfield of which Arteta desperately needs more contribution from.
Considering McGinn did play within a double pivot for a lot of the previous Premier League campaign, his offensive contribution to Villa was contextually impressive. His 2.67 shot-creating actions per/90 stood out as a particularly striking number on his stats sheet considering the deep role in which he operated in for Dean Smith’s side. Arsenal’s creative issues early in the 2020/21 season didn’t vanish in the second half of the campaign, so adding further creative touch to his side should be a priority for Arteta this summer.
McGinn’s versatility within midfield is a further attractive trait within his game. The Scot can operate in numerous different systems across numerous roles which could be helpful for an evolving Arsenal side. Not only can he perform as a #6 or a #10 in a 4-2-3-1, but also as an #8 in a 4-3-3, arguably where the 26-year-old is at his best.
Arteta has stated on numerous occasions that he foresees his side Arsenal team shifting to a 4-3-3 at some point in the future, so McGinn would be a useful addition in that regard. Until the evolution occurs, the midfielder can contribute within a 4-2-3-1, and thereafter he is a shoo-in fit for the left-sided central midfield role within a flat three.
Thus, while McGinn is by no means a profile replacement for Xhaka, that shouldn’t stop him from being a player Arsenal keep tabs on this summer. Under a long-term contract at Villa, the midfielder would doubtlessly come at some cost, but he’d add some useful variety to the Arsenal engine room, something neither Xhaka nor Dani Ceballos did last season.
McGinn may not be the flashy name Arsenal fans are looking for their club to add to their squad, but he may well be the right name from the perspective of this summer’s rebuild in north London. As a player who always plays the game with his heart on his sleeve, similarly to his compatriot Kieran Tierney, McGinn would be a welcome addition.