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La Liga Leaks: Scouting for.. Arsenal

Introducing..

Arsenal are one of those strange sides that even when they overachieve it feels like they haven’t quite done enough. A contradiction in itself, I know, but strangely true. Finishing second after being so many points behind arch rivals Spurs should be seen as successful but it wasn’t. Arsenal recorded their highest finish in over 10 years, matching their second place finish from 2004/05 season. However after a brief stay at the top of the table earlier in the season they then fell away dramatically and ended up 10 points behind surprise winners Leicester when the season was over. With traditional main rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United having seasons to forget they might not get an opportunity as good as that to win the league.

Problem areas

For Arsenal the problem areas seem to have been the same for as long as I can recall - everyone knows them - but they aren’t often addressed. The one thing you remember from the best Arsenal sides in recent years is having a 30-goal-a-season striker. Now while it’s true they don’t exactly grow on trees these days, you feel someone the size of the Gunners should be capable of attracting a better striker than Olivier Giroud.

And just as a top tier striker has been missing since Robin Van Persie left, so has a genuine defensive midfielder. Mikel Arteta did a fine job for a few years but still wasn’t in the bracket of players you’d expect Arsenal to attract, although considerably better than Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin. Granit Xhaka has obviously been signed to fill that role so we’ll see how that goes but quite why they weren’t in for Grzgorez Krychowiak at £22m I’ll never understand.

Last week Arsenal with linked with Riyad Mahrez after Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell have all failed to nail down that right wing slot. Walcott has probably run out of chances now and if a sizeable bid came in would be sold, same for Campbell. Ox’s versatility probably makes him first choice for that spot but injuries tend to be his downfall.

Defence is another area where Arsenal are lacking a little. Hector Bellerin is clearly first choice at right back but who is second choice - Mathieu Debuchy? He hasn’t really fulfilled the role he was supposed to and Bellerin’s rise to prominence has helped deflect deserved criticism from going his way. Laurent Koscielny is the main man at the back but Per Mertesacker isn’t getting any younger, plus potentially out for a few months, while Gabriel Paulista has failed to convince fans he’s the long-term solution either.

Who could they sign?

The choices at centre forward in La Liga are limited. If he hadn’t signed a new deal this summer then Antoine Griezmann should’ve been their main target. The cash is there and a move of that magnitude could help revitalise a project that appears to be lacking ambition. Now that he’s unattainable the next best option would be Sevilla’s Kevin Gameiro. It would force Arsene Wenger to change his system somewhat but Gameiro has that killer instinct in front of goal, the pace to beat defenders and generally be in the right place at the right time. At 29 he’s one for the here and now instead of yet another ‘for the future’ deal, as time doesn’t wait around for anybody.

In the right wing slot the most obvious choice from La Liga would be Vitolo. Of course, like with Griezmann before, Iñaki Williams would’ve been first option had he not signed a new contract at Athletic Club. However let’s not underrate the influence Vitolo has had on Sevilla’s recent successes. Despite scoring just five goals last season, his lowest at the club, he has progressively improved in notching up assists and got a very respectable 15 (in all competitions) last year. Not the greatest crosser of the ball but he’s got the pace to trouble full-backs, an eye for a goal, and at the age of 26 is just about to hit his peak.

As for right-back, I’m a huge fan of Malaga’s Roberto Rosales. In every league you get defenders who are under appreciated and undervalued by the masses because they don’t play for one of the star sides. In La Liga, Rosales is one of those - he’s Mr Consistent, season after season. A full-back that’s a guaranteed ‘7’, a bit like how Arsenal fans view Nacho Monreal on the other side of the defence. He’s great at blocking crosses as well as tackling, plus chipped in with five assists last season. He’d be perfect to rotate with Bellerin and could even help nurture the attacking full-back’s defensive side of the game.

Finally Arsenal should look to replace Mertesacker with his fellow countryman Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia. The German international excelled alongside Nicolas Otamendi two seasons ago and despite failing to reach the same heights last time out proved to most viewers that he’s one of the best defenders in the league.

He won 90 of his 140 aerial duels, losing just 33 of them. Compare that with who most consider to be the best defender in La Liga, Diego Godin (won 94, lost 53 out of 147 aerial duels) and it’s not bad at all. He led the league in interceptions, amassing 133 and came second in tackling with 80 in total. A defensive stalwart who, at just 24 years of age, could prove to be future captain material at Arsenal. Valencia are in need of more cash so he could be available for around €30m, perhaps even less than that. They’ll need to move quick though as plenty are keeping an eye on the promising centre back.