According to Metro, former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas has urged Arsenal manager to sign PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the summer. The 57-year-old believes that a squad overhaul could be necessary if Arsenal are to make a push for the title next season.
Nicholas has also suggested the sale of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi and said, “I would sell Henrik Mkhitaryan and if I got the right money for Alex Iwobi I would sell him too. Denis Suarez has gone, that was a waste of time.”
Does Arsenal need a player like Rabiot?
Arsenal manager Emery currently has a lot of options in the midfield department. But while Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka have been first-team regulars for the Gunners, the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Denis Suarez have struggled to make an impact in the first-team.
Elneny is yet to muster 300 minutes of league football this season. As for Suarez, his loan to Arsenal in January was a complete disaster. The Spaniard has already returned to Barcelona after picking up a groin injury.
In addition, star player Aaron Ramsey’s departure to Juventus next season could spell further trouble for the Gunners. Hence, bringing in a fresh face in the midfield department could provide Emery with more options at his disposal.
Rabiot is already regarded as one of Ligue 1’s best midfielders and could be an interesting option for the Spaniard. He has a vast amount of experience as well, having made over 220 competitive appearances for PSG. He can, thus, be considered as a viable target for the Gunners.
What will the Frenchman add to the table?
Rabiot’s experience is sure to help him integrate to the faster-paced nature of the Premier League. But, it’s his excellent passing and technical quality that makes him an appealing target for the North London giants.
He has attained over 90% passing accuracy in each of the past four seasons – a remarkable achievement for any midfielder in the world. Rabiot is also known for his tackling prowess that could make Arsenal much more vigilant in midfield. He has averaged 2.5 tackles per game – more than any other Arsenal regular this season.
From a tactical perspective, the Frenchman can be accommodated in Emery’s double-pivot alongside Lucas Torreira. Rabiot’s composure and class in midfield will surely complement the much more dynamic and robust figure of Torreira, thus adding another dimension to the Arsenal midfield.
He is an upgrade over Xhaka and at the age of 24, he could be a long-term prospect for the Gunners. It is believed that the PSG midfielder can leave for free in the summer, which could be beneficial for Arsenal as they are likely to face budget restraints in the upcoming transfer window.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
