What could the potential signing of Bernardo Silva bring to Arsenal?

What could the potential signing of Bernardo Silva from Manchester City bring to Arsenal? 

By Jonny Bray

Manchester City have an embarrassment of riches in almost every position on the field. 

The summer signing of Jack Grealish in a deal worth £100 million has added to an already outstanding squad of players. 

However, something has got to give. 

City cannot continue to sign star after star without trying to balance the books. 

But Riyad Mahrez had his best season since he joined last year, Phil Foden has broken into the side in the last 12 months, Fernandinho and Rodri are crucial to Pep Guardiola's system, and Kevin De Bruyne is 

Kevin De Bruyne. 

This leaves a select few players who could be cut out of Pep's plans at the Etihad this season. 

Of the players reportedly available, Bernardo Silva, is undoubtedly the most prominent name and easily the most exciting prospect. 

He's linked with a move to Arsenal in FourFourTwo, The Sun, The Manchester Evening News, and several other reputable publications. 

The 27-year-old Portuguese playmaker has also been touted as part of a swap deal, including Harry Kane, meaning Arsenal aren't the only side looking to capitalise on the excess talent City have on their books. 

But what would the former Monaco midfielder bring to Arsenal? 

How did he perform last season? 

Silva is coming off the back of his worst season on the blue side of Manchester since he joined the club in the summer of 2017. 

He saw his playing time drop dramatically as Guardiola persevered with the more physical midfield duo De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan alongside Rodri or Fernandinho. 

He made 26 appearances in the last Premier League campaign, but he had played 35, 36, and 34 Premier League matches in his first three seasons in England. 

He also saw his goal return drop, scoring two goals compared to six in 2017/18, seven in 2018/19, and six again in 2019/20. 

That's not to say that his days of being a top player are through, just that he wouldn't be joining the Gunners in the form of his life.  

He was also still able to maintain his impressive assist output, despite a drop in game time, recording six assists. 

That's one assist less than his Premier League best of seven. 

How would he fit into Arsenal’s midfield? 

There was a time when Arsenal had no shortage of creative midfielders in their squad. In fact, they arguably had too many in the 2010s. 

Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, and Santi Cazorla were all outstanding options at one point. 

Still, as things stand, the only player Arsenal have who slots in perfectly in that position is Emile Smith Rowe. 

While Smith Rowe is an exciting talent, it would be asking a lot of the 21-year-old if the club doesn't bring in another attacking option in midfield. 

Silva would slot in perfectly alongside Thomas Partey and one of Smith Rowe or Granit Xhaka. 

It'll also dramatically increase Mikel Arteta's options, as he could then choose between a more attacking or defensive midfield trio depending on the opposition. 

Furthermore, if the Spaniard wanted to play with three at the back, he could play Silva as an inside forward on the right of an attacking three. 

This adds another option to an already exciting Arsenal front line. 

Should Arsenal sign him? 

In short, yes. 

Silva is obviously an outstanding talent with at least another five years at the top of European football and 

Arsenal have proven they're not afraid to spend big on players with little to no sell-on value. 

You only have to look at how the club went about contract negotiations with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ozil to see that. 

However, this time around, Arsenal would be taking that risk on a player with something left to prove. 

When Arsenal extended Ozil and Aubameyang's contract, they did so in the knowledge that both players had very little to prove in European football. 

Both were already considered generational talents in their positions. 

In Silva's case, Arsenal would be signing a player who is still hungry to play in one of the best national teams in Europe, still hungry to prove Guardiola wrong, and still hungry to compete in the most competitive league in the world. 

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