Why Ivan Rakitic would be a terrific addition to the Arsenal midfield
As per Le10 Sport (h/t Daily Mail), Arsenal have entered the race to sign Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic in the summer.
Rakitic, 32, rose through the ranks of Basel’s youth system and came to prominence during his time at Sevilla. In three years with the Andalusian club, he made 149 appearances before joining Barcelona in the summer of 2014. Since then, he has established himself as an integral member of the squad, winning several trophies including four Spanish league titles and one Champions League trophy.
He was also a significant member of the Croatian squad which reached the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Despite being a crucial member of Barcelona’s squad earlier, Rakitic has fallen down the pecking order in the last two seasons. Thus, Arsenal should take advantage of his situation and make an attempt to bring the midfielder to England this summer.
The Gunners haven’t enjoyed a brilliant campaign but they managed to compensate by lifting the FA Cup title, beating Chelsea in the final. Mikel Arteta has done a splendid job since taking over the reins at the Emirates. However, there are some changes that need to be made if they are to challenge for various titles next season.
Rakitic – An experienced campaigner to lead Arsenal’s midfield
Arteta doesn’t have a big squad at his disposal and the numbers in the midfield are especially limited. Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi are the only two attack-minded central midfielders in the squad, whereas, Dani Ceballos is on loan from Real Madrid.
However, there is still no guarantee on Ceballos’ future and he could return to Spain once his loan spell comes to an end. Matteo Guendouzi also seems to have no future at the club as he has been frozen out of the squad since the game against Brighton last month. Thus, a central midfielder is a must if the Gunners are to improve their game and be consistent.
To that end, signing Rakitic would be a smart move by the club. The Croatian has made over 650 career appearances and his experience could come in handy for the club. He would definitely add depth to the squad and given his experience, he could bring stability to Arsenal’s midfield.
The former Sevilla man has played at the highest level for the majority of his career and his winning mentality could help the squad. His 103 career goals also show that he could provide them with some goals form the middle of the park, something the Gunners have lacked.
Read more
- Why Abdoulaye Doucoure to Arsenal would bolster their midfield
- Why Amadou Diawara would be a smart addition for Arsenal
Verdict
At 32, Rakitic still has the ability to continue at a high level and given Arsenal’s lack of options, he could be a leader in the Gunners midfield. Thus, they should sign the Croatian international this summer.