Arsenal are looking to add a creative midfielder to Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of next season.
The Gunners have been resolute defensively throughout this campaign, but have lacked incisiveness in forward areas at times.
Martin Odegaard has struggled for form, while Ethan Nwaneri has been forced out wide due to injuries in the forward line.
This has left the North Londoners short on creative options in the midfield, after they allowed Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira to leave in the summer, and this appears to be something they’re looking to address in the next transfer window.
Arsenal interested in signing Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler
Arsenal have historically had a plethora of creative midfielders at their manager’s disposal, with Arsene Wenger afforded the luxury of picking from the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey at one point.
However, the current iteration of the Gunners is extremely reliant on Odegaard in this position, and this must change moving into next season.
According to Turkish Football journalist Emre Sarigul, Arsenal are interested in signing Arda Guler from Real Madrid.
Guler was linked with Arsenal back in November, and these links are now seemingly resurfacing as the summer transfer window approaches.
The Turkish international has started just six La Liga games for Los Blancos this season, and finds himself on the periphery of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
The veteran Italian head coach has the likes of Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham at his disposal, all of whom are likely to be considered above Guler in the pecking order.
Thus, the 20-year-old is looking for a way out of the Bernabeu, and Arsenal are considering offering it to him.
The Premier League club have held talks with the player’s family and representatives over a move, although they face competition from Newcastle for his signature.
Arsenal should promote Max Dowman instead of signing Arda Guler
While Guler is supremely talented, Arsenal shouldn’t attempt to sign the youngster.
The former Fenerbahce man would be coming to the Emirates expecting play a prominent role immediately, something Arsenal cannot offer him.
He’s not going to usurp captain Odegaard and he’s not going to play over Bukayo Saka on the right-wing, while Nwaneri is already developing as the man who fills in and rotates with both players.
Thus, if Guler was to become a key figure in Arteta’s team, he’d have to develop into a left-sided player, an area of the pitch he hasn’t operated in at any point in his career thus far.
However, the main reason the Real Madrid wonderkid shouldn’t be on Arsenal’s transfer list is because of the emergence of Max Dowman.
Arteta described Dowman as ‘unbelievable’ in January, and the academy prospect showcased his eye-catching talent to the Arsenal faithful at the Emirates in the FA Youth Cup last month.
Dowman has interest from other clubs, and signing Guler would significantly increase the Gunners’ chances of losing him before he even makes a senior appearance.
The addition of the Real Madrid want-away would block the pathway to the first team for the 15-year-old, who is too exciting a talent allow this to happen to.
Dowman and Nwaneri are Arsenal’s answers to Arteta’s team’s lack of Odegaard alternatives – they don’t need to fix this issue externally by spending huge amounts of money.
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