Arsenal facing another midfield transfer dilemma

There is no skating around it, Arsenal find themselves in a midfield pickle. Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg is around the corner and Mikel Arteta may only have one senior midfielder to choose from.

Sambi Lokonga struggled on his return to the side against Nottingham Forest, with his lack of minutes over the past month showing as he was partnered with Charlie Patino in midfield.

Coupled with Granit Xhaka’s second positive Covid test, whose return has no set date, it leaves that area of the pitch paper thin. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has joined Roma on loan and both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are away on AFCON duty. That’s everyone.

Arteta has made no secret about his desire to bolster his ranks this summer and bringing on forgotten man Sead Kolasinac in the dying embers of the 1-0 FA Cup defeat was a clear message to the board that he’s down to the bare bones. Even a sign reading ‘help me in the transfer market’ would’ve been less obvious.

Arsenal facing another midfield transfer dilemma with Mohamed Elneny the subject of concrete transfer interest from Turkey in January window

They can’t afford to let anyone leave, which is why the situation with Elneny could throw another spanner in the works.

As per Mark Mann-Bryans of PA Sport, there is concrete interest in the Egyptian’s services from Turkey this month.

Allowing the 29-year-old to leave in January won’t impact the team in the short-term, with Egypt the favourites to win AFCON this year. Should they reach the final, or even be part of a 3rd place play-off, he will be involved in Cameroon until February 6. That would cast some doubt over his involvement against Wolves on February 10.

Heavily depleted in that department, Arsenal will have to bring in more bodies before they can sanction his departure, even if they will give themselves the entirety of the transfer window to do so. However, as underwhelming as Elneny will be, he is at least well versed in Premier League football and can be relied upon to a certain degree.

The same can’t be said about another arrival should they come in from abroad.

Thus it poses another dilemma. If the situation were any different then any interest in Elneny would be welcomed with open arms as Arsenal can move on a player not at the level required six months before he will walk away for free. Who the clubs are isn’t known, nor is the transfer fee in question, with the latter point one of the key points that could tempt the Gunners’ hand.

You can’t imagine it will be all too much, mind.