Arsenal have a depth issue in the attacking midfield position of their team. With just Emile-Smith-Rowe and Martin Odegaard should Mikel Arteta wish to switch to the 4-3-3 which has been touted, he could find himself lacking in options.
The Arsenal manager spoke previously about the long-term want to play the system at the end of 2020, however, highlighted that the club needed to make additions before his plan could come to fruition.
“We want to move to a 4-3-3 but for that," said Arteta in December of last year. "You need a lot of specificity in every position but now in five or six positions, we don’t have it."
Six new arrivals came in the summer and this enabled Arteta to use the system in two matches so far this campaign. The 1-0 win over Burnley and 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Odegaard and Smith-Rowe operated as the number eights but since then, Alexandre Lacazette has taken the Norwegian’s place in a new team structure with the England international playing on the left.
With Lacazette expected to depart, the 4-3-3 could return but Smith-Rowe’s new role leaves the club light in attacking midfield.
It is therefore unsurprising to see the club linked with a move to the versatile attacking midfielder and wide playmaker Marco Asensio.
Reportedly available for around £34 million, the Spanish international could be the best option to give Arteta the variation in his squad to relaunch the formation next season.
Former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman has tipped the Gunners to be the club that secure Asensio in the summer. Highlighting the opportunity to earn plenty more game time.
“If it was a club next year, I’d say it would be Arsenal. [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang’s coming to the end of his career - or he’s certainly into his thirties - and with [Alexandre] Lacazette in a similar position and coming to the end of his contract, Asensio could be at a club where he’d probably have more joy of playing.
“If he’s to leave in 18 months, it’s still a long, long way away. But I think he’s an Arsenal type of player, like an [Martin] Ødegaard, who’s good on the ball, not necessarily really quick, but turns well, scores goals and makes chances.”
If this turns out to be the case, Asensio would need to overcome the issues he has suffered since his serious knee injury against Arsenal in 2019.
He has so far been unable to re-establish himself in the Los Blancos side under Carlo Ancelotti but has shown quality in the opportunities given to him. Perhaps a move to Arsenal and a new environment with enriched confidence placed in him would relaunch his career.
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