How can Arsenal strengthen their midfield this summer

By Tom Masters

After a disappointing end to the season which saw Arsenal miss out on Champions League football at the expense of rivals Tottenham Hotspur, it is time for attentions to turn to next season, with Mikel Arteta in the market for a whole host of signings to improve his side this summer. 

One of the main areas he will be looking to improve is the midfield, which has failed to deliver what Gunners fans wanted this season and was a large contributing factor to falling at the end of the season and missing out on Champions League action. 

Thomas Partey has shown he is the player that Arsenal thought they had signed from Atletico Madrid, but he has had his fair share of injuries, and the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka have not managed to deliver the consistency that Arsenal need. 

Partey’s place in the Arsenal midfield is not under threat, as when he is fit, he is among the best midfielders in the Premier League, but for Arsenal to really kick on and begin to close the gap with pace setters Liverpool and Manchester City, they will need to find a suitable partner for Partey in the holding midfield role. 

It is understood a four-man shortlist has been drawn up as Arteta looks to finally address Arsenal’s midfield once and for all and strengthen what has been an area of weakness for the Gunners this season. 

Here we look at the shortlist, and how likely Arsenal are to secure their services this summer. 

 

Youri Tielemans 

 

Tielemans is the number one target for Arsenal this summer after once again impressing for Leicester City despite an underwhelming campaign from the Foxes this season.

 

A player who is capable of playing deeper or further forward, the Belgian midfielder has been tipped for greatness since his teenage years at Anderlecht, where he became the fourth youngest player in the league’s history after making his debut aged just 16. 

He moved to AS Monaco in 2017, where he spent one and a half seasons before making the move to Leicester City on loan in January 2019. 

Now 25, Tielemans has made 107 appearances for the Foxes, scored a stunning goal to seal a famous win in the 2020/21 FA Cup final against Chelsea and was part of a Belgium squad that finished third in the 2018 World Cup, making him incredibly experienced for his age. 

Arsenal are thought to be particularly keen on the Belgian due to his ability to control games, and it is thought that alongside Partey, Arsenal’s midfield could be revolutionised. 

An extra bonus for the Gunners is that Tielemans has just one year left on his contract, which may make Leicester happier to see him go for a potentially lower fee this summer. 

 

Arthur Melo 

 

Arsenal were keen to bring in Brazilian Arthur in January on loan but a deal fell through as Juventus did not want to lose both Rodrigo Bentancur and Arthur in the same transfer window. 

Arthur joined Barcelona from Brazilian side Gremio in 2018 aged 21 when he signed a six-year deal. 

However, after just two seasons he moved to Juventus on a five-year contract for an eye watering £61 million. 

A combination of injuries and lack of form saw the 25-year-old make just 11 starting appearances in Serie A last season, with a further nine appearances coming off the bench. 

More of a defensive midfielder than a central midfielder, he could possess the deep lying playmaker ability that Arsenal have lacked this season. 

Due to the nature of his transfer fee, and the fact he has another three years on his contract, the 22 times capped Brazilian would likely cost upwards of £50m and he is thought to be fairly low down the wish list. 

 

Douglas Luiz 

 

Another Brazilian, Douglas Luiz made his debut for hometown side Vasco de Gama aged 18, playing 25 matches and scoring three goals in his maiden season of professional football. 

That campaign impressed enough to earn a move to Manchester City, where he signed a five-year contract before immediately going on loan to Girona, where he spent two seasons, due, in part to him not obtaining a work permit. 

In 2019 he earned his move to Aston Villa after finally being granted a work permit, and it is here that he has really impressed. 

In three seasons at Villa, he has been an absolutely essential cog in turning them into an established Premier league side again, making 103 appearances and scoring five goals, while also making nine appearances for his country. 

Luiz is perhaps the most defensive player on the Arsenal shortlist, but he has the ball playing ability to play in the number six role alongside Partey, in what could be a very solid duo. 

Like Tielemans, Luiz is also in the final year of his contract, and ahead of the transfer window opening on June 10, he could also represent a good value deal for Arteta and the Gunners. 

 

Ruben Neves 

 

Due to his strong links with Barcelona and Manchester United, Neves is probably the least likely player on this shortlist to join Arsenal this summer. 

Neves began his career at FC Porto, where he impressed immediately, scoring on debut aged 17, and after three seasons had already amassed 59 appearances, scoring three goals. 

He then made a surprise move then Championship club Wolves in what was both a club and league record fee of around £15 million at the age of just 20. 

A sensational debut season in English football with six goals in 42 appearances saw him rewarded with a new bumper contract at Molineux. 

But five years after signing, having played almost 200 times for the West Midlands side, he all but announced his decision to leave the club this summer. 

With two years left on his contract, it is understood that Wolves are hoping for more than the £45 million they received for compatriot Diogo Jota when he made the move to Liverpool, which is certainly something that will put Arteta off. 

A truly impressive midfielder to watch, Neves would certainly fit the system of the Gunners, but with Barcelona seemingly favourites for the Portuguese international, it seems highly unlikely that Neves will be playing football in North London next season.