Arsenal are looking to strengthen in midfield this summer, but questions remain over what kind of player they will target.
Mikel Arteta is keen to add a defensive midfielder to this Arsenal side, which will allow Declan Rice to thrive further up the pitch.
Arsenal were interested in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but it appears that the Spaniard is not keen on a move away from his boyhood club.
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz was also of interest but he is set to join Juventus, whilst Everton’s Amadou Onana has emerged as an option.
Given Everton’s need to sell, Onana could be available for around £30m, but his ability to dictate play from deep positions in a similar manner to Jorginho has been questioned.
Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has explained what the ideal central midfielder would bring to the side, and this suggests that Onana is not the right fit to take the side up another level.
Cesc Fabregas explains his ideal vision of a midfielder
Speaking to Proficient Sport Parenting on TikTok, Fabregas claimed that he prefers to see midfielders progress the ball forwards, rather than dictating play with sideways and backwards passes.
“I’m obsessed to play forward,” he stated.
“For a midfielder, the best quality that he must have is to be able to play forward. There are all these stats nowadays – 100% pass completion – but show me the clips of their passing.
“Are they passing to the centre-back, or to a close midfielder, or are they breaking the lines and making things happen.”
Why Youssouf Fofana would suit Arsenal more than Amadou Onana
Given that a new signing will play behind Rice, whoever joins will need to follow Fabregas’ model of midfielder, and be able to progress the ball forward to support the attack.
Onana does not currently provide this, with the Belgian recording an average of 4.61 progressive passes per 90 minutes. These are passes which move the ball forward into attacking areas closer to the opposition goal; forward, rather than backwards.
By comparison, Jorginho records 8.05 progressive passes per game, nearly double the number of Onana, and this shows that despite his physicality, Onana replacing Jorginho at the base of Arsenal’s midfield would reduce their ability to advance the ball in build-up play.
Arsenal have also been linked with Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, who could be available for a bargain fee. Fabregas played alongside the France International at Monaco, and recently claimed that Fofana has the ability to play in a top team.
Fofana registers 8.31 progressive passes per 90 minutes, and also brings supreme physicality to the base of midfield. If Arsenal are to sign a player to get the best out of the rest of their midfield, it should be the Monaco star, not Onana.
