Bernardo Silva the right Arsenal signing at the wrong time

Bernardo Silva could be leaving Manchester City this summer. It doesn’t even seem to be fathomable that someone as talented as him could be deemed surplus to requirements. Then again, with Arsenal lenses on that level of quality is beyond comprehension.

Given the possibility of Silva being moved on this window, naturally links have emerged to most clubs across the continent, with talk then moving on to Arsenal. What a surprise, given Mikel Arteta is also supposedly after two other City players and the need for a creative type is well played out.

There is, however, nothing concrete. As to be expected.

But that hasn’t stopped the clamour. Such is the process. It’s implored. Why would anyone in their right mind not want Bernardo Silva at their club? He’s an exceptional mover of the ball; an interchangeable piece in an ever fluctuating system.

Bernardo Silva the right Arsenal signing at the wrong time as Mikel Arteta needs centralised No. 10 – even if the Manchester City man is exceptional

He also has a big fat zero chance of ever joining Arsenal, so that puts a stop to any potential arrival in the first place. City would probably command in the region of £50-£60m, Silva wants Champions League football, his heart is apparently set on Barcelona (which isn’t viable at all), and he might fancy some better weather. Can’t blame him for any of those.

Would anyone be adverse to having the 26-year-old on the carpet? They shouldn’t be. Silva would be a glorious Arsenal signing as he would be for any team, it just isn’t the right time.

Arteta’s hunt for an attacking midfielder, as exemplified by the interest in Martin Odegaard and James Maddison, is for centralised creativity. Someone to drift into the pockets, exploit space between the lines and be a connective function in a flowing machine. An instigator and an influencer.

Silva, by all accounts, is most of that. But he is predominantly a wide forward who moves in, not a central figure who moves out. Yes, he’s played as a central midfielder and a No. 8 for City, even as a No. 10 too, but those central positions he doesn’t often stick to as they’re not his forte.

Divine dribbling ability and close control at pace are why he’s so effective cutting in from wide areas and acting as an inside forward. Striding with elegance, his numbers for progressive carries, penalty box entries and the volume of progressive passes he receives demonstrates his willingness to show himself for the ball at every opportunity.

He isn’t joining anyway. No chance. But as magnificent as a footballer as he is and he’d be at Arsenal, with Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka out on the right the need for a more certified central option is paramount.

Would anyone complain if he was announced tomorrow? Absolutely not. He’d be welcomed with open arms. Just perhaps he’s not the exact right profile at this moment in time to fill in at No. 10. Could always try and make it work, mind you.