Arsenal will be looking to put forward a strong case for another title challenge this season under the watchful eye of Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are third in the Premier League table, and just a point adrift of league leaders Manchester City, who pipped them to the title last term, much to the frustration of the Arsenal faithful.
Summer signing Declan Rice has settled into the squad well, and is already justifying the hefty price that Arsenal paid for his services during the summer transfer window. Further strength in depth could still be needed in the Arsenal squad though, as they look to compete to the highest possible standard in all the competitions they’re competing in, which includes the Champions League, which is a trophy they’re yet to win.
One player that the Gunners have been linked with in previous transfer windows is Douglas Luiz, who is currently with fellow Premier League side Aston Villa. The Brazilian midfielder has been with Villa since 2019, having previously been on the books with Manchester City, where he failed to break through to their first-team. He’s certainly made up for lost time in the top-flight of English football though, as he’s been a regular for Unai Emery’s side this term.
In a recent interview with BonusCodeBets, former England and Liverpool winger John Barnes made the claim in saying that Luiz would be a ‘great signing’ for Arsenal if they could agree a deal with Aston Villa to land his signature.
“Luiz has been great at Villa for the past couple of seasons. Not just this season. He’s a fantastic player. He can play as a six and as an eight.
“Since Arsenal signed Rice they’ve been much stronger in midfield but I still think they could be stronger with another number six of which Luiz is. It would be a great signing despite the fact Villa have ambitions to push into the top four.
“I can’t see them selling him but he would be a great signing for Arsenal.”
Luiz has made 19 appearances for Aston Villa this season, and has chipped in with six goals and two assists to date, which makes for encouraging reading for any potential suitors heading towards the January transfer window. The 25-year-old has also been involved in the Brazilian national team, and he could potentially be tempted by a move elsewhere, especially if a club with the stature of Arsenal were to come calling.
Luiz would be a strong addition to the Arsenal squad, especially when he’s a player that has already showcased his talent at this level, so his potential arrival would come without an element of risk. It could also allow Martin Ødegaard to occupy a spot further forward in the current Arsenal starting XI, and with defensive cover in midfield coming from Rice and Luiz, the Gunners could potentially have the missing piece in their title-winning jigsaw.
With a busy schedule of fixtures coming up for Arsenal, further reinforcements are certainly needed, and Luiz would certainly provide them with that going forwards, and so it’s a move that would make sense for all parties involved.
How likely are Villa going to sell one of their very best players to a close PL rival?
Not.Going.To.Happen.
Next summer at the earliest, and even then most doubtful, unless we have someone to PX with them.
Unrealistic but always nice to dream about near impossible signings midseason
“Nice to dream” then , eh?
NOT if one is a realist, like me.
As a realist one is interested only in what will happen or at least will PROBABLY HAPPEN.
As for things that have zero chance to happen, realists are completely UNINTERESTED IN THEM, simply BECAUSE we are realists, not “dreamers”
Not happening, Villa wouldn’t sell him to us and he’s happy there anyway.
This story have more legs than a centipede, I understand the Brazilian is Arsenal priority target going into the January winter window.
Could this be a Declan Rice story all over again, leading up to the summer I stated the Declan Rice story had legs when a fan rant he prefers realist than over enthusiasm fans that dream all day., as he rant we are not Real Madrid or oil rich clubs that spend excessively.
Yoursouf Fofana and Zeki Amdouni are more realistic targets to partner Declan in our midfield. This are player who can play as 6,8 or 10 &that’s what we need to replace both Xhaka and Partey without dropping our quality
Arteta must be biting his fingers in regret!
With the benefit of hindsight, he will be wishing he threw the Harvetz money at Villa for Luiz last summer.
At that time I’m sure Villa would have grabbed the money with both hands because they could invest it in a suitable replacement. But now? I doubt Villa will play ball. And I can’t see the player pushing for a move either. He didn’t do so when Arsenal first wanted him. Rather he capitalized on our interest to buy himself a new, lucrative Villa contract.
So, give that 60m to Monaco; they could more easily let you have Yousef Fofana