Forget Zubimendi, £60m star Mikel Arteta loves must be top Arsenal transfer target

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Arsenal should make signing Douglas Luiz their priority ahead of trying to do a deal for Martin Zubimendi or Amadou Onana.

Arsenal are clearly in the market for a new midfielder.

The north London club are due a major overhaul in that part of the pitch. With Thomas Partey, Jorginho, and Mohamed Elneny all coming towards the end of their playing days and facing an uncertain future at the Emirates Stadium, only Declan Rice represents the long-term look of the Gunners’ midfield contingent.

As such, Arsenal have been linked with a number of players who could offer them extra depth in this part of the pitch.

Sporting director Edu is thought to be willing to activate the £52 million release clause of Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi. Meanwhile, Everton ace Amadou Onana is said to be open to a move to north London. 

However, Mikel Arteta is also a huge admirer of Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian is an established star in the Premier League and has been a huge figure in the Midlands club’s rise under Unai Emery. Luiz is even credited as being Arteta’s “dream” signing. 

However, Aston Villa will not let the 25-year-old go cheaply. They are thought to want £60 million in exchange for the 11-cap Brazil international, who Arsenal have failed to prise away from Villa Park for a lower fee in the past. 

This will clearly be a tough deal to get over the line, but Luiz should still absolutely be Arsenal’s top midfield transfer target. 

Why Arsenal should go for Douglas Luiz over Martin Zubimendi or Amadou Onana

He has plenty of Premier League experience, with 160 outings in the competition for Aston Villa now under his belt. Onana is yet to garner even half as much experience in the division, whilst Zubimendi has never played in the Premier League before.

Luiz is also a more robust physical presence than the Spaniard, which he marries with excellent technical ability. 

Whilst at 6’4”, Onana towers over both Luiz and Zubimendi, the Belgian is less accomplished in the final third than his Aston Villa counterpart. Luiz has contributed 7 goals and 6 assists across all competitions so far this season, proving he can be a creative force in the middle of the park, as well as a destructive one that specialises in breaking up opposition attacks.

Due to this, Luiz, like Rice, is comfortable as both a No. 6 and a No. 8, meaning he could either rotate with the £105 million former West Ham United man or play alongside him.