Four Chelsea players Arsenal should sign


Jorginho


Four Chelsea players Arsenal should sign

By Tom Masters

Chelsea may be performing on the pitch, having reached the FA Cup final for a third consecutive season, but off it they are in something of a crisis with Roman Abramovich’s forced sale of the club leaving them in limbo.

This leaves Chelsea in the rather unenviable position of total uncertainty, with some players at the end of their contracts exploring other options due to future unknowns, allowing other clubs to circle for Chelsea's stars.


Ahead of the vital clash between Arsenal and Chelsea this Wednesday, we have a look at four players that Mikel Arteta should be looking to add to his squad for next season. 


Antonio Rüdiger  


One of the most sought-after players in European football at the moment is Antonio Rüdiger, who is one of several players whose contract comes to an end this summer. 


Rüdiger’s transformation under Tuchel has been nothing short of outstanding. Seemingly surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard, the German defender quickly became one of the first names on the team sheet after Tuchel took the reins and was a vital cog in the Chelsea side that went on to win the Champions League. 


Any side in world football would be happy to have the former Roma defender, whose strength and pace combined with an uncanny ability to get in the opposition’s face make him one of the standout defenders in not just the Premier League but across Europe. 


Arsenal’s defensive pairing of Ben White and Gabriel has been excellent at times but if Arteta had the opportunity to bring the German in, you can be sure that he would take it. 


The main stumbling block with Rüdiger is the fact that there is registered interest from the likes of Bayen Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona, so whether or not Rüdiger would opt to join Arsenal would have to be seen. 


Jorginho 


With Grant Xhaka’s future at the club unknown, finding a suitable partner for Thomas Partey will be one of the most critical areas of Arteta’s transfer planning this summer. 


Italian Jorginho’s time at Chelsea has been a rollercoaster, lifting the Champions League last season but often finding himself out of the team this year with Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kanté seemingly Tuchel’s preferred midfield. 


What Jorginho brings is control, a calming presence on the ball, and the ability to play smart incisive passes. 


Partey can benefit from having someone alongside him with the ability to play this way and what Jorginho lacks in pace and power, Partey more than makes up for. 


With Connor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour likely to be retained by Chelsea next season, it seems as though Jorginho could be available if the right price is met, and maybe it would be a worthwhile transfer for Arsenal in their search of the perfect midfield balance. 


Timo Werner 


Another whose time at Chelsea has been full of ups and downs is German forward Timo Werner. 


Werner signed from RB Leipzig last summer for £47.5M and now in his second season at the club is starting to put in the performances that he became known for in the Bundesliga. 


In just 19 starts this season, Werner has netted 10 goals and a further six assists, showing he is far more comfortable with the demands of the Premier League than he was a year ago. 


With Romelu Lukaku’s failings it seems unlikely both Lukaku and Werner would leave this summer, but with Werner’s form just starting to reach similar levels to his 78 goals in 127 Leipzig appearances, it may be the perfect time to attempt to secure his services. 


Arsenal are also in need of a forward option, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gone and Alexandre Lacazette seemingly heading off this summer. Werner's work rate and pace could see him slot perfectly into Arsenal's front three.


Malang Sarr 


A player with the ability to play across the backline is useful for any team and Malang Sarr possesses it, something which Arsenal could certainly benefit from. 


They have proven in recent weeks with injuries to Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu that they lack the depth required to cope defensively, something which has been apparent as The Gunners have fallen to consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton. 


Sarr joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Nice, where he made 119 appearances. After a loan spell at FC Porto, the 23-year-old French defender returned to Chelsea where he made his debut and has now made 18 appearances. 


In those appearances he has played at left back, centre back and right back, showing his flexibility, while he is not totally averse to playing as a defensive midfielder. 


Arteta will almost certainly be in the market this summer for defensive players, and Sarr ticks a lot of boxes due to his ability to play across the backline.


Whether or not he is somebody that Arsenal would target remains to be seen but he is certainly someone who can thrive at the Emirates. 

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