The Gunners are exploring the idea of signing the Real Madrid star on loan for the rest of the season but does the Emirates really need him?
Arsenal know what they want through the January transfer window.
The priority is to cut a flourishing squad and that process has already begun, with Chad Kolasinac returning to the former Schalke club on loan until the end of the season.
More of the Bosnian defender is expected to follow out the door and if that happens, Arsenal ‘s attention will then shift to bringing in a certain type of player.
“It’s very clear what we need,” said technical director Edu, speaking at a fan forum before Christmas. “We need a player with creativity in the middle. We don’t have that in the squad right now. ”
A player is at the top of Arsenal’s shopping list in January and Real Madrid are being considered for an attack on midfielder Isco.
Arsenal are investigating the possibility of a loan until the summer and are encouraged by the willingness of the player to leave the Santiago Bernabeu to get the regular match time he needs to earn a place in a squad Spain for the upcoming European Championship.
Real, however, have yet to decide whether to allow a three-time Champions League winner to go, with boss Zinedine Zidane willing to weaken his squad at a time when they are already on last of the city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Liga title race.
So it’s a waiting game for Arsenal right now, with the club focusing on the loan market due to the devastating financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
But do they really need Isco? Is Edu right in saying that Arsenal do not have a player with creativity in the middle?
Emile Smith Rowe has shown in the last two games against Chelsea and Brighton that he is more than capable of excellence in the Premier League, while Mesut Ozil is still at the club and very un- like leaving in January.
So, if it happened, it would not make much sense on several levels.
His quality is clear, and before Smith Rowe appeared, there is no doubt that Arsenal have struggled for creativity in the midfielders this season.
But it is customary for short-term loan contracts in January to be unsuccessful. Arsenal only recalls Denis Suarez ‘s problems when he made the move from Barcelona to north London in early 2018.
“Every player needs time to change,” Arteta said when discussing the issues that could arise from signing a player at the halfway point of the season.
“What qualities does this player bring, what time has that player left, where has he been, has he been in a different country, does he speak the language, has he? is he familiar with a particular style of play? There are a lot of conditions that are, in my opinion. influence whether or not that player can make an immediate impact in a team.
“For me, there are really important things to consider before you take steps to bring anyone in in January.”
Arsenal plan to build a project with Arteta, putting in place plans that will bring a better future after years of recession.
But Isco is now 28 and has not been at his best for a few seasons. In his last 60 La Liga appearances, he has four goals and four assists with a name. It would be short-lived and it would not come cheap.
Why would Madrid pay what would undoubtedly be a huge loan fee to bring in for a few months while it also had to pay for his salary?
Is Isco – a player who has never played in the Premier League – really going to do more than Ozil would over the final months of the season, should the German be brought back to the squad?
It would certainly be a wiser business decision to just use the high-paying player you already have at the club, rather than bring in and add another one. the already high wage bill?
And what would Isco do to the development of Smith Rowe? After patiently waiting for his chance, he has now created a young and energetic front line that inspired Arsenal to a backhand win in the Premier League for the first time since the opening fortnight of the season.
If this is a truly long-term project at Arsenal, then giving the 20-year-old a chance to succeed is crucial. The last thing he needs is someone coming in and blocking his path.
“We have to be careful with that,” Arteta admitted when asked about the danger of hindering the growth of a young player by introducing a more established name through the transfer window.
“Emile is a player I really enjoyed from the first day I watched him. It’s just the way he moves, the sensitivity, the position he takes and the level of his work.
“You see what he can bring to the team, so I’m delighted to have a young player with his talents and in that position, something we need.”
Bukayo Saka’s rapid rise in the past year has shown what can happen when young players get the chance to play regularly and Smith Rowe has the talent to match the results of his fellow academy. He just needs to give him game time.
So while a big name like Isco might come in that generates excitement and headlines first, there is a strong argument to be made that Arsenal would be far better off using what they have about early.