Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern are preparing themselves for yet another captaincy change this summer, with current armband-holder Mikel Arteta seeing his deal at the Emirates expire at the end of the season.
Whilst fans debate which player should be given the honour of wearing the captain’s armband, a separate debate has been sparked as to what players Arsenal could potentially bring in to replace the experienced Spaniard.
Arteta hasn’t been a regular fixture of the Gunners first-team for a few years now but he still gets a fair bit of playing time and the space in the squad will be opened up for somebody to come in and compete with the vast array of talented midfielders Arsenal already have.
The decision though will be whether to replace Arteta in his current position, a holding role, or bring in a player who could replicate the Spaniard’s performances in his prime when he played in a box-to-box position.
Our fans have identified five potential replacements for Arteta this summer, all of whom they see as realistic targets.
Hit Arteta below to see FIVE potential replacements for the Arsenal captain!
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Granit Xhaka
The influential Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder has made it pretty clear that he wants to leave the Bundesliga side and move to the Premier League, where he’d be the perfect fit into Arsene Wenger’s regime in North London.
Experienced at the highest levels of European football and on the international stage with Switzerland, the 23-year-old would be the perfect long-term addition to Arsenal’s squad. Once dubbed the young Swiss Schweinsteiger, Xhaka is quality in a deep role and has superb creativity.
Sound familiar?
William Carvalho
Another midfield target for Arsenal, and one Gooners will be well aware of given his long-standing links with a switch to North London, is Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho. Again just 23, he presents a fantastic option for the future.
Carvalho is a rock in front of the back four but still possesses the ability on the ball that Arsenal require, meaning he could be direct competition for Francis Coquelin or a potential midfield partner to the Frenchman in games that require more grit in the middle of the park.
A problem here is the vast competition Arsenal would face for his services and Portuguese sides are notoriously difficult to negotiate with, meaning the Gunners would have to part with a small fortune.
Victor Wanyama
A top-priority for many given his Premier League experience, Arsenal have tracked Kenyan international Victor Wanyama since his days north of the border with Celtic. Now at Southampton, and reluctant to sign a new deal, Arsenal may find themselves in a direct fight with North London rivals Tottenham for the midfielder’s signature.
Wanyama could end up being a bargain for Arsenal as come the summer he would have just one-year left on his deal on the South Coast, although the Saints are actively trying to get Wanyama to put pen to paper on a lucrative new deal.
It’s certainly one Arsenal should keep their eyes on and, like the others mentioned, Wanyama is a player for the future as much as he is a star to improve the squad immediately.
Adrien Rabiot
Perhaps lesser known and rated lower than the other potential Arteta replacements on this list, Adrien Rabiot has been linked to Arsenal regularly for a few years now. With his playing time at Paris Saint-Germain severely restricted, the French youngster is keen on a move.
Arsenal’s problem may be the fact that he’s very public with his desires, which is something the Gunners don’t look upon pleasantly, but Rabiot could be crafted into an exceptional player by Arsene Wenger.
Unlike the others we’ve mentioned though, Rabiot wouldn’t necessarily be a direct inclusion in Arsenal’s first-team and would take more time to develop.
Grzegorz Krychowiak
The dream signing for many is Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, who has been a integral part of the Andalusian side who won back-to-back Europa League titles. The Polish international may now seek a bigger challenge, with Sevilla failing to make their mark in the Champions League this term.
Arsenal would have to pay big-money to land Krychowiak but he’s arguably the best defensive midfielder there is in Europe. At 26, he’s a fair bit older than the other targets we’ve outlined on his list but he still has plenty of years ahead of him.
