Arsenal have been linked with five different midfielders – here’s the one they should buy in January

Between injuries to Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey and a broader lack of strength in depth behind the established starters, Arsenal’s midfield is a problem just waiting to unravel. Mikel Arteta’s preferred three-man arrangement featuring Declan Rice patrolling the spaces behind Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard works just fine, but should they lose any of those key players for any length of time, the Gunners’ title challenge could easily fall apart.

So it’s no surprise that Arsenal have been linked with a move for a midfielder in January, with plenty of names thrown up by the press. It looks like Arteta is especially keen to find a midfielder that could play alongside Rice in a double pivot if needed, something he has tried with Jorginho a few times with uninspiring results – but whether they go for someone who adds a little defensive steel or a more creative player to contend with the more attacking players for their spots, getting the right man could be key to their chances of winning the Premier League, even if they’re only used as a rotational piece.

Below, we’ve gone over the five players who have most persistently and plausibly been linked with a move to the Emirates and weighed up which would make the most sense for Arteta to sign. Do they fit his tactics and style? Are they a developmental project or are they oven-ready for a title challenge? Would they cost too much to be worthwhile? Let’s take a look and find out…

Arthur Vermeeren – Antwerp

When you’re gunning for a first league title in 20 years, you don’t typically want to put your trust in the hands of a teenager – but 18-year-old Vermeeren isn’t your typical teen. He exploded onto the Belgian scene last year and immediately established himself as a regular at club level and is already a two-cap senior international. He’s an unquestionably special talent.

An all-action defensive midfielder who likes to roam around the pitch looking for fires to put out, he has a lot in common with Rice, and has the technical quality and work ethic to work well in a high-pressing, hard-working side. He still shows signs of his youth, however, and can be guilty of holding onto the ball too long in tight spaces, while his output in the final third is modest – although his superb passing range means he’s very good at supplying the ball up to the forward lines. The rumour mill reckons he’d set Arsenal back around €20m (£17.2m), which may be enough to prevent Arsenal from signing an alternative as well.

The 3AM Verdict: In a few years’ time, Vermeeren may well be one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Europe – but for now he still has too many rough edges to round off to be relied upon in a big match in the Premier League. We’d wait until summer if we were Arsenal, provided that his other suitors don’t force the issue. Both Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona are said to be interested.

João Neves – Benfica

Another gifted young midfielder, but perhaps one who appears to be further along the path to first-team readiness – and may in fact be there already. A brilliant recent effort against Inter Milan in the Champions League suggested a player who’s very much good to go despite being just 19 years of age, and he combined nine tackles with 90% passing accuracy and 100% dribbling success rate against one of Europe’s best midfields.

Like Vermeeren, he’s mostly a defensive midfielder but one who shows poise and creativity when he does get forward to support the attack. He doesn’t have the same lung-busting running capacity as Rice, but makes up for it with excellent technique, fine passing and some excellent reading of the game. The only problem will be cost. Benfica are in no rush to sell one of their most prized assets and reportedly want his massive €120m (£103.2m) release clause met before they let him go.

The 3AM Verdict: We love Neves and think he’ll be a world-class player before too long, but it’s worth noting that Benfica still tend to manage his minutes in domestic football regardless of his qualities, which suggests that they feel he still has some maturing to do. His prohibitive price tag is the real problem, though. If Edu and his team can haggle Benfica down to something more palatable, Neves would make a brilliant addition to the side.

Martín Zubimendi – Real Sociedad

The 24-year-old Spaniard was one of the biggest contributors to Sociedad’s qualification for the Champions League and has been playing out of his skin for the past couple of years, so there’s no question that Zubimendi would bring the industry and hard graft that Arteta demands. But does he have the raw quality to make a difference at the very top of the Premier League?

We’d say it’s borderine. He has a good first touch and an expansive passing range, and is rock solid in his defensive duties – but he’s also less comfortable with the ball at his feet than might be desired and doesn’t dribble very well, and also offers too little in the final third to be able to join the attack with any great success. Arsenal have allegedly been told that they would have to meet his €60m (£52.8m) release fee to sign him over the winter, with Sociedad keen to hold on as they chase a second straight top four finish.

The 3AM Verdict: Zubimendi is a limited player who is very good at what he does, but the question is whether his skillset is broad enough to make him a flexible squad option for Arteta. He’s got a pretty similar profile to Jorginho, which might not be what the manager wants. At £52.8m, we’d say Arsenal would be paying too much, but there’s certainly a very good player in there who would be worth a punt under different circumstances. Perhaps one for the summer, when the fee may become more reasonable.

Gabriel Moscardo – Corinthians

Another younger option, Moscardo’s name has come up in conjunction with Arsenal a lot of late despite the fact that he’s only just turned 18. That’s a reflection of how impressive he’s been in the Brazilian top flight this past year – at his best, he’s looked like an embryonic Franz Beckenbauer in the making.

Moscardo reads the game extremely well in the defensive third, makes a ton of tackles and interceptions and runs forward quickly and threateningly with the ball at his feet – but while there are signs of a future great there, he still needs to improve upon his passing, both in terms of range and accuracy, and he doesn’t offer enough in the final third when his surging runs take him there. Most of Europe’s biggest clubs have also been linked with a bid, and reports suggest that £26m will be needed to get him.

The 3AM Verdict: Another massive talent who probably isn’t ready to lead a title charge if called upon. If the Gunners can afford to sign him alongside someone more senior, then that would make an awful lot of sense as his future looks exceptionally bright, but leaning on him to topple Manchester City may be asking too much of someone so young, especially when they’d be adapting to life in a new country and learning a new language.

Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa

A proven Premier League performer, to say the least – Luiz has been immense for the Villans this season, seemingly popping up all over the pitch to effect turnovers, spring attacks and provide a threat around the edge of the penalty area. He’s been brilliant under Unai Emery, and it’s no surprise that Arsenal are extremely keen to secure his services.

The problem, of course, is that Villa will not be in a hurry to sell arguably their best player to a club who may well end up being title (or at least top four) rivals down the stretch. Sources have quoted £110m as the amount required to get him to come to the Emirates, which is a colossal spend – but not much more than they splashed on Rice, of course.

The 3AM Verdict: If this deal can be made and if Villa are willing to sell – both very substantial ‘ifs’ indeed – then Douglas Luiz is the clear front-runner. He does just about everything brilliantly, is effective at both ends of the field and has the versatility, energy and ability to serve multiple different purposes in Arteta’s side depending on which tactical scheme he wants to use. We suspect this deal will prove to tough to get done in January, but if there’s a sniff, he should surely be Arsenal’s man.