Arsenal are in the market for a midfield addition and Serie A midfielder, Bryan Cristante is one of the names being considered. Cristante is currently serving a season-long loan spell in Atalanta from Benfica with an option for the Italian side to sign him permanently for £3.5m at the end of 2017-2018 season. They will bank a massive profit with both Arsenal and Liverpool ready to bid £27m for the midfielder.
The Italian ace has been in sensational form recently, netting in 10 goals in 34 appearances. 3 of those goals came against Everton in Europe to help them secure a knockout place.
He appeared only 7 times for Benfica ever since he moved to there from AC Milan and has been on loan since January 2016. He played a short spell in Palermo and then the previous season for Pescara.
The Italian is amongst the many youngsters like Keita Balde Diao and Nicolo Barella, who are impressing a lot of scouts in the Serie A.
Cristante’s ball distribution quality, coupled with his strength and attacking prowess, will sit well behind the likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the starting lineup. While Granit Xhaka has been a key figure in the Gunners squad, the Swiss international lacks the cutting edge to completely take over the midfield.
Jack Wilshere is the one who has flourished next to him in the deeper positions and Mohamed Elneny has found himself frustrated on the benches. Francis Coquelin’s departure has left a void in the midfield especially due to the style of play Wenger implements.
The Frenchman favours a team full of creative options who will control possession on the offensive end and break down opposing defences with high-intensity passing. Ozil is the prime candidate to lead the charge with Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey behind him as support.
However, the German international is not capable of playing in the deeper position due to the defensive efforts it demands. Cristante can be perfect signing to restore some stability into the vulnerable Gunners lineup on both ends of the pitch.
The North London club has been in shambolic form since the start of the year. They have already lost 8 games in 2018, 4 of them registered over the past 3 weeks. Wenger’s future with the club continues to be speculated upon along with talks of further restrengthening to improve upon this season’s performance.
Cristante can be a shrewd acquisition in the midst of exit talks over both Wilshere and Ramsey.
