Arsenal need a midfielder
Most Arsenal fans will likely agree that their club currently need to strengthen in two key areas.
These are at centre-forward and in central midfield.
Whilst both issues will need to be addressed in 2022, it has become obvious of late that central midfield is currently the more pressing matter.
Both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are away at the African Cup of Nations, potentially until the final which takes place on February 6th.
Elsewhere, the Gunners have loaned Ainsley-Maitland Niles to AS Roma for the remainder of the campaign.
This just leaves and inexperienced Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka as senior central midfield options at the club.
And, once again, Xhaka proved against Liverpool that he is a reclass individual that cannot be relied upon when it really counts – this time getting himself sent off after just 24 minutes vs the Merseysiders.
This leaves Arsenal with just Lokonga as a senior central midfielder for Arsenal’s next three games vs Tottenham, Liverpool and Burnley.
Arthur to Arsenal latest
So, it is fairly obvious that Arsenal need to strengthen their midfield, especially if Elneny leaves in the summer when his contract expires.
The north Londoners do look to be aiming to do so with Juventus man, Arthur, who has been linked this week.
Now, Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation on Friday, stating that negotiations between Arsenal and Juventus for Arthur will continue in the coming hours and that Arsenal are offering a loan deal which covers the Brazilian’s full salary covered until June with no obligation to buy clause included.
Romano does, however, add that Juventus are not accepting until they find a replacement.
Negotiations between Arsenal and Juventus for Arthur Melo will continue in the coming hours. Arsenal offering loan deal plus full salary covered until June – no obligation to buy clause included, as of now. 🇧🇷 #AFC
Juventus are not accepting until they find a replacement.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2022
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 21 | 40 | 53 |
| 2 | Chelsea FC | 21 | 29 | 43 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 20 | 34 | 42 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 21 | 12 | 37 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 20 | 8 | 35 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | 3 | 33 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 19 | 3 | 31 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 19 | 28 | |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 19 | 27 | |
| 10 | Leicester City | 18 | -2 | 25 |
| 11 | Southampton FC | 20 | -6 | 24 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 20 | -1 | 23 |
| 13 | Brentford FC | 20 | -6 | 23 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 19 | -5 | 22 |
| 15 | Everton FC | 18 | -9 | 19 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 19 | -16 | 19 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 18 | -14 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 17 | -11 | 11 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 19 | -23 | 11 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 20 | -36 | 10 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 16 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 8 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 8 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 8 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 7 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 7 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 6 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 6 |
| Jorginho | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 6 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 6 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 6 | |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 | |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 6 | |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 | |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 | |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 5 | |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 5 | |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 5 | |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 1 | 4 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 5 | |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 5 | |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 5 | |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 5 | |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 5 | |
| Rodri | Manchester City | 5 | |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 5 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 9 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 5 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 4 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 4 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 4 |
| Redmond, Nathan | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |