Which Wolves players should Mikel Arteta try to sign?

Neves

By Ben Hart

A number of fans and pundits criticised Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market in January. The lack of arrivals, coupled with several outgoings has left Mikel Arteta with a wafer-thin squad for the remainder of this campaign. 

Regardless of where Arsenal finish this season, Arteta is sure to strengthen his side in the summer with a number of new faces.

Despite losing to Arsenal on Thursday night, Wolves have aspirations of European football themselves, but a Champions League spot may be a step too far for Bruno Lage’s side.

If they are to miss out, and Arsenal secure a return to Europe’s elite club competition, Arteta may well look at some of Wolves’ key men as potential recruits.

Here we look at who they could be and what they might bring to the Emirates Stadium.


Ruben Neves

Neves' post-match comments after Wolves’ defeat to Arsenal means he may have to win over some Arsenal fans if he were to sign for The Gunners. The midfielder accused Arsenal of over-celebrating at Molineux, “like they had won the league.”

But those remarks should not rule him out of a place in Arsenal’s midfield.

At 24 years old, Neves is in his prime, and fits the age profile of players that Arteta has looked to recruit in the last year or so.

He has a wealth of Premier League experience, now into his fourth full season in the division, and that may persuade Arteta to look at Neves over targets from overseas who may take longer to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League.

A big frustration of the partnership between Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey is that one or both of them often miss out through injury or suspension. Since Wolves were promoted to the top flight in 2018, Neves has missed just seven of their 136 league games.

He is clearly very durable, used to playing a high volume of fixtures, and that could be attractive to Arteta if Arsenal are competing in multiple competitions.

Neves also has more goals in the Premier League than Xhaka, the man he is likeliest to replace, despite two fewer Premier League seasons than the Swiss.

Currently valued at £36 million on Transfermarkt, Neves may come cheaper than others on Arteta’s shortlist, particularly if Wolves miss out on European qualification.

Max Kilman

Two of Arteta’s first signings at Arsenal were left-footed centre-backs in the form of Pablo Mari and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Mari’s time at Arsenal looks to be over, with the Spaniard on loan at Udinese for the remainder of the season, having had very little game time this term.

That leaves a space in the squad for a left-sided defender to push Gabriel for a starting berth.

Max Kilman has improved markedly this season and has been an ever-present in a Wolves back-line that is only second to Manchester City for fewest goals conceded.


Max Kilman


He came very close to an England call-up in November and if he continues to perform so strongly, it’s only a matter of time before Gareth Southgate includes the 24-year-old in his squad.

Having made 25 appearances for the England Futsal team between 2015 and 2018, Kilman is very good with his feet and looks calm when playing out from the back.

These traits and a market value of just £8.1 million would make him a steal for Arteta’s Arsenal.


Daniel Podence

The drop-off from Arsenal’s starting XI to the rest of their squad was evident in their FA Cup third round defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Although the two wingers that day were regular starters in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arteta had no established options to turn to on the bench as his side laboured.

With question marks over Nicolas Pepe’s future at the club, a versatile forward like Daniel Podence could be just the kind of addition Arteta needs.

Capable of playing from the left, as a number 10 and as a lone forward, Podence can fit a range of systems but is just effective at terrorising defences wherever he plays.

The Portuguese also has experience of the Champions League with Olympiacos to support his case, and even scored against Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in a 2-2 draw in 2019.

Valued at £19.8 million, with just two years left on his contract in the summer, Wolves may feel they have to renew Podence’s contract or part ways, and Arsenal could step in.  

Arteta and his scouts may have examined these potential options very closely in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Lage's side and they have the chance to do so again on February 24th when Wolves visit the Emirates. 


Photo Credit: Getty Images

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