According to a recent report by The Evening Standard, Dani Ceballos is close to extending his loan stay with Arsenal beyond June 30 if the current season is not finished by then. It is believed that the Spaniard’s parent club, Real Madrid are willing to allow him to extend his loan spell at the Emirates Stadium with the Gunners currently relaxed about the situation after the Premier League decided to suspend all football in England until April 30 due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic (via The Evening Standard).
Ceballos’ Lacklustre Loan Spell At The English Capital
Ceballos has mostly been underwhelming since his loan move to North London last summer. He has only managed to register one goal and two assists in 24 matches for Mikel Arteta’s side this term on all fronts. A serious muscle injury has hampered his progress at Arsenal, which explains his poor productivity in front of the opposition goal.
The ex-Betis midfield ace only earned a total of 1353 minutes of playing time this season and has averaged 0.7 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game in the Premier League (stats via whoscored). His numbers don’t make for good reading, but he could still play a crucial role for the Gunners in the coming months if the Premier League decides to resume its regular season and not deem it as null and void.
Ceballos has also secured nine senior caps for the Spanish national team and has one goal to show for his efforts. However, at the moment, the 23-year-old is not good enough to play for his country, so unless he goes on a terrific run of form, it is unlikely that he will be selected to play in the 2021 UEFA European Championship which has been rescheduled to kick off at the end of next season.
What Does The Nine-Time Spanish International Offer On The Pitch?
Ceballos can make some impressive runs with the ball in the opposition half and is generally very tidy with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass success rate of 88.9% in league football this season (stats via whoscored). He excels at interchanging passes with others around him and has the vision to pick out a decisive ball in the attacking third of the pitch. However, the Spaniard has struggled to score goals or pick up assists in the English first division, so he will be hoping to make a fresh start when he eventually returns to action.
Ceballos Closing In On Extending Loan Stay In North London: Huge Relief For Arteta
If regular football does resume in the Premier League, then Mikel Arteta will need all of his squad players to be fit and available for selection as he tries to steer his side towards making a late push for a top 5 finish in the league table. It will be easier said than done, but Ceballos could help them achieve that feat if he can find some form at the Emirates Stadium heading into the business end of this campaign.
Hence, Arteta will be breathing a sigh of relief if Real Madrid allows the Spanish playmaker to extend his stay beyond June 30. Ceballos will not only add a bit more creativity and dynamism to the Arsenal midfield but also increase competition for places within Arteta’s squad.
