Earlier rumours had linked Ever Banega to Arsenal which would have given the Argentine international a chance to reunite with his former manager Unai Emery who has taken the top job at the London club. However, if the latest reports from Spanish media are to be believed then Banega is satisfied with the Spanish outfit Sevilla and it is highly unlikely that he will make a move to the English club.
This can come as a body blow to Emery as he would have loved to have his old compatriot in the middle of the park for his new side. Arsenal has set the ball rolling in the transfer market as they have wrapped up the signings of goalkeeper Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen and defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund. Their third signing of the season could very well be Lucas Torreira who is expected to join after the World Cup.
Arsenal failed to qualify in the top four for two seasons in succession and as a result, the pressure started mounting on Arsene Wenger who decided to step down from his position at the club. Emery will have a big task at his hand as he will be expected to deliver a top-four finish in the 2018-19 campaign.
The Argentine recently couldn’t help his national team go past the round of 16 in Russia, however, Banega was one of the better players on the pitch and ended the campaign with 2 assists in three games. The 30-year-old would not have been a long-term option for Arsenal, though the Spanish manager would have been aware of what sort of qualities he is going to get from the player as he has worked with him previously. Banega was a part of two Europa League triumphs under the new Arsenal manager.
The South American is a hard-working midfielder who can do various jobs in the middle of the park. He can turn out as a holding midfielder, box to box midfielder or even an attacking midfielder. He would have been a handy addition in the Gunners line-up. However, at 30 it wouldn’t have been easy for him to flourish in the Premier League given the tempo and physicality of the division.
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The Gunners are in need of a commanding midfielder who can control the tempo of the game. Banega would have been a good option but there are other younger fishes in the pond which Arsenal can go after.