The brilliant signing Arsenal can make that will see them repeat Martin Ødegaard move and rescue a star

Talented midfielder Arda Güler is reportedly unhappy at Real Madrid and wants to move to a club where he’s valued and can get the minutes needed to develop his game and take it to the next level. Arsenal are said to be interested, having previously signed Martin Ødegaard from the La Liga giants with the Norway international now captain of the Gunners. Ødegaard, at the time of his switch to North London, was struggling and couldn't see a clear pathway into the first team at Madrid. Real Sociedad initially took him on loan, and then Arsenal stepped in. They also took him on loan, and ultimately decided to invest in him.

Guler appears to be on a similar path. He is nearly the same age as Ødegaard was when he joined Arsenal. At Madrid, there was hope that the retirement of Toni Kroos would open up more playing time for Guler, but that hasn't been the case so far. He has played 22 out of 48 possible games, starting eight, with another 24 games missed due to injury. This means he has only seen 17.12 per cent of the available minutes, worrying statistics for a player of his talent. He has also been frustrated by Carlo Ancelotti's reluctance to give him playing time, even when other players have been underperforming.

One of the attractions of Mikel Arteta’s management style has been his ability to get the best out of players, and Güler would be a great addition to the group of young midfielders who are at the heart of Arsenal's next generation. The journey to stardom at Madrid can be tough and lonely.

However, at Arsenal, Güler would have Ødegaard as a reference point. The key question is not just what Arsenal can do for him, but what he can bring to the team. When Arsenal lost their Norwegian captain to injury, it became clear they were struggling, they lacked someone to create chances and read the game between the attacking lines, which took a toll on their play. In Guler, Arsenal wouldn’t just have an ideal replacement for Ødegaard, but also a player eager to take his game to the next level, someone that Arteta could turn into a superstar.

Arsenal have faced challenges this season, particularly in not being able to prove as fruitful in front of goal as they were last season. Their failure to sign an out-and-out striker has been a major issue, but another creative player who can operate centrally could alleviate some of the burden on goal-scoring and creation.

Arsenal also have a good relationship with Real Madrid, and with Güler under contract at the Spanish club until the summer of 2029, a loan move could be an option. This would give him the chance to adapt to Premier League football and see how he progresses from there. There is a sense that Arsenal will be active in the upcoming transfer window, and it remains to be seen whether they will push to get this deal across the line.