Arsenal transfer business hints at Yves Bissouma stance

Arsenal Are Unlikely to Sign Yves Bissouma From Brighton

This may not be the case. By this time tomorrow Bissouma may have uploaded an Instagram picture of him and Pepe playing together as Arsenal on FIFA or something similarly teasing and next thing you know he’s holding the shirt aloft. Big egg on the face if so.

But in truth, there doesn’t appear to be much room in the squad for the division’s top tackler of 2020/21.

It’s impossible to ignore the Africa Cup of Nations. Based on the current rumours, until more players arrive, Arsenal are looking at Lokonga, Partey, Elneny and Azeez as their options in central midfield next term.

Firstly they’re all holding midfielders of some variety, even if Lokonga and Partey can be more box-to-box, and furthermore, two of them will be jetting off to AFCON in the winter for up to a month. Bring Bissouma in and nothing changes in that regard with inexperienced duo Azeez and Lokonga holding the fort.

Disregarding the coming season, AFCON isn’t a one time thing. It happens every two years and while Elneny is unlikely to be here by then, Partey and Bissouma would be if the latter joined and then the issue arises again where the two main central midfielders are absent. Throw in the hope that by then Arsenal will be back in Europe and it’s a lot to lose.

Already the club are preparing for Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departures during that period, thus if acquired Arteta faces the prospect of five members of his squad leaving with three of those being central midfielders.

Bissouma is an excellent player and, as seen with the Elneny and Partey partnership, some energy to harass the ball, sweep up possession and intercept in that area unlocks Partey’s potential. Some of his best games last season came with the ‘sweeper’ midfielder to his side.

Bring the Malian to north London and another central midfielder is needed, quite possibly two. Lokonga is an exciting prospect, as is Azeez, but it’s just unfathomable to imagine that being he scenario come January.

More midfielders will come, of course, it just looks like none of them will be the fans’ favourite.