Why Nabil Fekir would be a perfect signing for Arsenal
According to Spanish publication AS (h/t The Sun), Arsenal are interested in signing Real Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir in the summer transfer window.
Fekir, 26, is a product of Lyon’s academy. He played for 6 years with the club’s senior set-up. He established himself as one of the best playmakers during his time with Lyon. After 193 games for the French outfit, he made the switch to Real Betis in Spain last summer.
The French midfielder has been brilliant this season. So far in 2019/20, Fekir has made 23 appearances for the La Liga side, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have had a mixed season so far. But the arrival of Mikel Arteta has brought positivity into the squad. They have gone unbeaten in the league since the turn of the New Year and are currently 9th in the league table, hoping to make it to the Europa League qualification spot.
Arteta has done a fine job in knitting the team together despite not investing heavily in the previous transfer window. Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares were the only arrivals in January on loan. However, the Gunners should strengthen their squad in the summer if they are to achieve further progress in the following seasons.
The midfield department is something that Arteta should look to reinforce before next season. Joe Willock, Dani Ceballos and Mesut Ozil are the first-choice attack-minded midfielders.
While Willock is still young, Ceballos is on loan from Real Madrid till the end of the season. And Ozil has not been at his best, racking up just 1 goal and 3 assists so far.
None of Arsenal’s midfielders are known for their goalscoring abilities, which is something that the manager should address. Willock and Matteo Guendouzi haven’t yet opened their account in the league. Ozil has also struggled with his creativity and form this season. And this issue needs addressing.
To that end, adding Nabil Fekir to the squad would make a lot of sense for Arsenal. The former Lyon man has been in scintillating form in the past few seasons and has displayed his ability to contribute with goals and assists.
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Fekir is one of the most creative players in Europe and can contribute consistently with goals as well. Given his ability, he would provide the Gunners with much-needed extra goals from the attacking midfield, whilst also adding creativity. He would also bring in a healthy competition to Arteta’s squad.
Verdict
Arsenal’s lack of consistency in midfield is concerning. With Ceballos likely to leave, they need to add depth to their midfield contingent before the new season commences. And signing Fekir would help them improve with the quality in the middle of the park.