According to Hernan Castillo, Arsenal have enquired about the possibility of signing Guido Rodriguez. It appears the Real Betis midfielder has emerged as a potential target for Mikel Arteta, as he looks to shore up his midfield options in the upcoming January transfer window. Rodriguez does have a contract at Betis until 2024, but it won’t be surprising to see the midfielder leave the club much sooner.
Guido Rodriguez’s Success At Real Betis
A product of the River Plate youth academy, Guido Rodriguez joined Real Betis at the start of last year, for a fee of just €3 million. It has proven to be a sensible investment for the Spanish outfit, as the Argentine has since established himself as one of the most solid holding midfielders in the league.
In just under two years at Real Betis, Rodriguez has featured in 73 competitive appearances for the club. His partnership alongside Sergio Canales and William Carvalho has helped Betis emerge as one of the most resolute sides in the division, under the leadership of Manuel Pellegrini.
Rodriguez’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed either, with the midfielder already winning 20 caps for his country. He notably played a vital role in helping his nation win the Copa America in the summer, building a solid base in midfield and providing cover for the defensive line.
The 4th Official uses images provided by the following image agency:
Getty Images (https://www.gettyimages.de/)
Imago Images (https://www.imago-images.de/
A Good Option For Arsenal?
Arsenal are in the market for midfield reinforcements in January, with Arteta unsure over the quality and consistency of his current crop of options.
Granit Xhaka, for one, has struggled with injuries or form, while the likes of Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga evidently need more competition, if the Gunners are to successfully push for the top four places this season.
That is where the potential addition of Guido Rodriguez could be useful. The Argentine international is a fully-fledged holding midfielder, who can screen the backline and break up the opposition play.
It could be particularly useful for Arsenal when taking on top teams who usually like to dominate possession. Arteta, for one, has endured a poor record against the top four clubs in the Premier League.
The midfield partnership of Partey and Rodriguez could potentially solve the problem, as the latter’s defensive prowess should allow Partey to become more expressive in the possession phase of the game, ultimately stretching the potential of the Arsenal midfield.
