4 midfield alternatives to Mikel Merino that Arsenal should target

2. Fabian Ruiz (PSG)

Who needs Real Sociedad when you can just plunder the PSG ranks?

Many clubs have an eye on Spanish midfielders following their Euro 2024 success and one that really stood out then was Fabian Ruiz. He has been mentioned in the same breath as Arsenal this summer, and a brief look at his profile explains why.

It comes down to his Xhaka-esque qualities. Like Granit, the Parisien man is tall, left-footed and can dictate play from midfield with his exceptional passing, as well as his expert vision to spot forward runs from deep.  

However, he can also turn on a dime and is a far better ball-carrier than the Swiss, while his ability to link midfield and attack would bring out the best in our top-quality (but often misfiring) offensive options.

Ruiz is not very good in the air despite his height, and Arteta would likely be concerned by a lack of physicality – something that cannot really be taught to a player approaching his supposed peak years.

Nevertheless, the Xhaka replacement is staring us in the face, and the arrival of Joao Neves at Parc de Princes might just open up another one of those much-beloved market opportunities.

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