Arsenal are in a crucial period of their history, where there might be a number of changes at the club, on and off the field. They have already lost their talisman in Alexis Sanchez this month but the Gunners are also looking to offload players who do not belong at Emirates and one player that will no longer be a part of the squad at Arsenal is Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla.
One of the most experienced midfielders at the club, Cazorla has been suffering from a long-standing ACL issue and has failed to get himself fit for even a single game this season. He is not expected to be back anytime soon and reports today claim that Arsenal are not looking to extend his contract with the club, that comes to an end at the end of the season.
So how can Arsenal replace Cazorla? Here are three replacements they should look to sign:
Jean Michael-Seri (Nice):
A transfer target for Manchester City and Manchester United, Seri is one of the most exciting midfielders in Europe at the moment. Previously linked with Arsenal and Liverpool as well, the Ivory Coast international has been in terrific form for Ligue 1 giants Nice and is not too far away from a big money move to a top club in Europe. He is a gifted footballer, who belongs at the highest level and at 26, is ready for first-team action. Surely, he is a player Arsenal should go all in for.
Kevin Strootman (AS Roma):
The Dutch international has been one of the best players for Italian outfit AS Roma this season. However, the Serie A side are in need to sell this month, to concur with the FFP rules and could be tempted to sell Strootman for an attractive price. At 27, he is an experienced midfielder, one of the best in the Italian top flight. Although he may not have the creative spark of a Cazorla, he is definitely a player who can improve the quality of the midfield at Arsenal.
Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla):
A long-term transfer target for Arsenal, N’Zonzi still remains one of the best options for Arsenal to add to their midfield. Tailor-made for Wenger’s style of play, the 29-year old French international may not be a long-term replacement for the Spanish midfielder at the Emirates but Arsenal need established stars to get themselves back to Europe and N’Zonzi is a risk worth taking.
