Arsenal have been linked with several midfielders this summer, and every single target has at least one issue over their potential signing.
There seems to be no perfect transfer available to Mikel Arteta this summer, unlike last year when Declan Rice joined for a club-record fee.
However, there are several standout options, and a surprise target is Benfica starlet Joao Neves. The 19-year-old has been outstanding since his breakthrough into the side, but given that any interested party would have to pay his release clause which stands at around £100m, it seems like a move that is unlikely to happen now.
Aside from his price tag, Neves otherwise makes sense as the midfielder to complement Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, but Arsenal fans are concerned about one thing when it comes to him.
Arsenal fans questioned Joao Neves height amid transfer links
With Arsenal seeking a defensive midfielder to allow Rice and Odegaard to push forward, many believe that the desired option would have physicality and height on his side. At 1.74m, Neves is not exactly a physical powerhouse in the same mould as reported Arsenal target Amadou Onana.
“Price is big and he is not big but he is hard not to like,” one Arsenal fan posted on X with regard to Neves.
“Like him but a he’s a bit on the small side,” one replied.
“I’d stay away from small players. Torriera was totally out of his depth in the PL,” another added.
Joao Neves usurps Declan Rice in stat which shows height is not a problem for Arsenal
In Rice, Arsenal already have a tall midfielder capable of physical dominance in the middle of the park to play alongside Neves.
Arsenal’s defensive midfielder does not necessarily have to be physically dominant given that they will play alongside Rice, in a similar role to the one Jorginho impressed in this season.
Joao Neves is just four centimetres shorter than Jorginho, whilst he is also eight centimetres taller than N’Golo Kante, who became a Premier League icon despite his height.
Neves, who was described as “excellent” by Bruno Fernandes, is also significantly taller than Arsenal icon Santi Cazorla, who succeeded in a central midfield role at Arsenal.
A key stat to consider is that despite not being the tallest, Neves is physically dominant. Neves wins 1.6 aerial duels per 90 minutes, a number significantly higher than the 1.1 Rice wins.
This is also much higher than reported Arsenal targets Bruno Guimaraes and Douglas Luiz, who despite having a size advantage, are not as tenacious in the air.
Neves as a profile is the perfect option for Arsenal given his supreme ability on the ball, his intelligence and his ability to play out of pressure.
He could be outstanding behind Rice and Odegaard, whilst helping both of them succeed, and any concerns over his height should now be alleviated given that Neves makes up for it with his other physical traits.