Arsenal could be forced to sign a new midfielder before the next transfer window opens after a number of their current options suffered from injuries.
The Gunners wanted to sign a new man for that position on deadline day, but their offers for Aston Villa man, Douglas Luiz, were turned down by the Villans.
This forced them to abandon the pursuit while relying on Albert Sambi Lokonga after losing Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny to different injuries.
Partey is close to making a return and could be available after the international break.
However, Arsenal still needs more men in midfield, and a report on 90min says they are now considering a move for Xeka.
The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving Lille at the end of last season, and he is now being considered a short-term fix to give the club much-needed depth in that part of the pitch.
Just Arsenal Opinion
We need to fix our midfield problem, but not every player will fit into our culture and system.
Mikel Arteta is the man in charge, and he knows the type of player he wants.
If the Spaniard finds Xeka good enough, we can sign him, otherwise, we can wait and sign a new man in January.
Think this would be a panic buy….just a speculation….we have young players ‘knocking on the door’….there you go…..☺
Our club has been lying on few options leading the club to loose many crucial games in many seasons.we do not only need one but not less than two midfielders
Will rather wait for January , then sign a player rejected my Lille and no other clubs reday to take him.
We can move Ben White in midfiled , to see if that works . Zenchenko can play in the midfiled as well.
We have to do a quick fix earlier than later, zichenko has gone into injury fix again, we already know partey injury records,games are coming in fast,a stitch in time save nine.,..in advance Brentford must go down…..COYGS
Yes brentford most go down ✍🏼0:2
keep up with the news dude zenchenko is injured
Zenchenko is out injured again.
Guys I think we need bodies in that midfield.
We have a very busy October.
Can people forget Ben white in midfield coach don’t rate him there it’s obvious.
He left by mutual consent after Lille had no European football and he wanted a new challenge after being there for 5 seasons picking up 131 apps . Also Lille opperate on a much tighter wage structure than that of other clubs so its sell or release to buy there were new terms on the table but he rejcted them.
He was a key member in their title winning side, where Christoph Galtiers liked to rotate his options bar there ever present Benjamin Andre. He made 42 apps that season across league, cups and starting all Europa league games where they got through the group stages. All when they had midfielders like Benjamin Andre, Boubakari Soumare, Renato Sanchez and Jonathan Ikone.
He fit in with Galtiers rotation system, but PSG said I fancy a bit of that and hired Galtier after Poch got the boot.
The following season he made more starts under the new manager Jocelyn Gourvennec, but his appointment didn’t pay off. As the Lilles best players were again cherry picked by bigger clubs across Europe, they finished 10th. A positive was the champions league where they got through to the round of 16 where Xeka started the 5 and made 3 sub apps during that campaign. Unfortunately Lille were knocked out early in the domestic cup.
This in a season where Xeka who for me looks more like an 8 based on his stats but has played at DM, finished with the most goals in their midfield with the handsome total of 3 lol shows the state of Lilles form last season. He also had a pass completion percentage of 82% in the league and 80% in the champions league. In the title winning season he hade 89% pass completion and 85% in Europe. Probably why the Arsenal have taken an interest.
He’s not a superstar signing everyone wants but he doesnt prevent us getting one either due to the nature of the deal. At 27 he’s a dedicated CM/DM with European experience who will be happy to rotate. It gives us depth in a position we have none and like i said doesnt stop us making a more substantial signing adding even more depth to midfield in Jan.
He would cost nothing has a good injury record and earned around 20k a week at Lille and according to Transfer Markt is worth around 8m. Might be worth a gamble just to have an extra body where we desperately need it additionally he’s young enough to be sold on for a tidy profit
Thanks for these details James.
Partey has to be properly managed. If he comes back from injury, he shouldn’t be rushed back to the first team.
With Partey in the team, Xhaka plays in an advance role on the left side of the attack. And that helps our build up.
I think we need a like for like replacement for Partey.
If Xeka is available, we should buy him.
But January is key. Ruben Neves is what we need in midfield. Arsenal should go all out for Neves in January.
I have a feeling. That we will compete with Man city for the title this season.
What exactly is informing the interest in Ruben Neves is a myth to me.
What really does he do special in the wolves team that attract so much interest in him.
The only outstanding MF I will take is Rice from west ham and that would be a very difficult deal to do, but worth a try.
Please bin Nevel, Tielemans and these average players.
I may also consider Ndidi and backup to Party or go seriously for Caicedo at Brighton. Maybe potter leaving will help ease that deal
Amazing summary.
The stubbornness of our gaffers have put us in dire straits most times. If we can’t move white to midfield then we may as well get xeka. Apart from he rhyming with xhaka, I’m positive he’s better than lokonga and will offer more in terms of experience and gameplay.
Finally I have been scrolling and guessing I would see the Xeka-Xhaka reference at some point 😄
Sound well researched assessment James. Thank you!
James
Then we rather get him, it could turn out to be a smart move….!
I also found this
Similar Players to Xeka
Last 365 Days Glossary
Midfielders
Rk Player Nation Squad Compare
1 Lucas Tousart fr FRA Lyon Compare
2 Anthony Losilla fr FRA Bochum Compare
3 Diadie Samassékou ml MLI Olympiacos Compare
4 Alessandro Deiola it ITA Cagliari Compare
5 Amadou Onana be BEL Everton Compare
6 Pierre Lees-Melou fr FRA Brest Compare
7 Ellyes Skhiri tn TUN Köln Compare
8 Wataru Endo jp JPN Stuttgart Compare
9 Abdoulaye Doucouré ml MLI Everton Compare
10 Tomáš Souček cz CZE West Ham United Compare
Well for a sample based on last season:
if you compare
Lucas Trosart passing Ave last season in Bundesliga he registered at 76%
Abdoulaye Doucouré registered at Everton
Onana but played less games than Xeka 84% whilst at Lille
So from those few who play in the prem la liga or league un they are pretty comparable
All speculation!
Can’t see Arsenal going for a player released by Lille and not picked up by another club some three weeks since the transfer window closed
Arsenal will rather wait and get a choice player who fits the long term strategy of the club
I agree with that Corperate man even though I wouldn’t mind him as a 3rd back up if it were. Like you said it’s pure speculation, it’s more than likely his agents trying to drum up some interest for their client. We have a new rep recently of finding gems for decent money so the Arsenal are i terested in Xeka headline amight make clubs in Europe take notice
I know there are just reports/rumours but apparently Klopp is ready to terminate Melo loan in january.he doesn’t seem to have been impressed by the player so far.have we dodged a bullet?
Diffinately he lacks pace and seems an incarnation of an old style 8. I would say hes in the mould of Liverpools old Brazilian mid Lucas Leiva but a little bit shy in the challenge compared to Leiva. He didn’t make it at Barca then failed to make it at Juve I was very surprised we were apparently interested let alone Liverpool.
Again I think the loan termination may be again speculation cause he hasn’t played yet, and would be harsh. It more likely down to a fitness, language and learning Liverpools system issue to why he’s yet to start
no need nobody who only fill the bench. we throw away all of them. why we pick again?
I would take him. Elneny is out for good part of the season and in his last year of contract.
Partey so far is having fitness continuity issues, Z. injured and fill left back too, Sambi seems more 8 than 6, lacks defensive, off the ball experience, manager does not seem to be considering Ben W. In midfield.
We have too many matches to play.
He seems decent with decent experience and age.
I would take him given salary is not ridiculous.
Sounds like a panic buy,but Mikel and Edu definitely know what they are doing, so hopefully we can trust them
to bring in Xeki as temporary cover for the midfield till we can bring someone in January. Hopefully we’ll be able to get hold of Douglas Luiz or Youri Tieliemans!!!!⚽️⚽️🥅🥅🏆🏆🏆🏅🏅🏅❤️