Mikel Arteta to face dilemma over best Arsenal line-up if Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk sign
Joao Felix is reportedly on Arsenal’s radar once again as Mikel Arteta looks to add another forward to his ranks during the upcoming January transfer window
Arsenal’s pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, whilst exciting, does raise the question of where he would fit into Mikel Arteta’s tactical plan should a loan move be completed in the January transfer window.
With Gabriel Jesus – and to a lesser extent Reiss Nelson – out injured and Emile Smith Rowe guaranteed to be short of match sharpness when he does make his return to action after over four months on the sidelines, the Gunners are making moves to bolster their attacking options.
The priority target is Mykhaylo Mudryk. And after seeing their opening offer – which was believed to be in the region of £55m including add-ons – rejected, negotiations with Shakhtar Donetsk will continue and it remains to be seen if the Ukrainian outfit will budge on their asking price of around £100m.
However, Mudryk isn’t the only forward whom Arsenal are targeting in the January transfer window as The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed Joao Felix is wanted in addition to the 21-year-old – with the only difference being a deal for the Portugal international being a temporary one.
“They [Arsenal] are keen to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid,” Ornstein said. “He’s been offered to a number of clubs and at the moment the numbers are too high. Arsenal are keen to do it but the numbers would need to come down.”
Adding Joao Felix into the mix alongside Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Marquinhos and potentially Mudryk would give Arteta plenty of strength in depth in the forward department and a team selection headache most weeks if everyone is fully fit and available.
In the scenario that Arsenal do sign the forward, how would the Spaniard succeed where Diego Simeone hasn’t to get the very best out of the 23-year-old? Well, playing him in his favoured role would be a good place to start: “My best position is as the second forward,” Felix told the Athletic earlier this year. “Playing like a No. 10, with a guy in front of me.”
Those comments would present somewhat of a problem should Felix make the switch to North London as his best position doesn’t currently exist in Arteta’s tactical setup. With that in mind, football.london takes a look at how the Portugal international could fit in at Arsenal.
Source: dailylifeworld.com
