4 Affordable Options to Take Arsenal's Number 8 Shirt Next Season
By Will Day
Dani Ceballos lifted the FA Cup with Arsenal on Saturday, and promptly left the club for Real Madrid following the conclusion of his loan spell.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is hoping to keep him, but Ceballos has always been keen to break through with Los Blancos - though he'll have no shortage of suitors if he doesn't.
The Gunners need to replace him though. There's been interest in Thomas Partey, though he does not do the same job as the Spaniard and will cost a heck of a lot of money, and their issue of midfield creativity will not be addressed with the club trying their very best to ship Mesut Ozil out of the club.
Given money is scarce, Arsenal may have to look at cheaper options to fill the number 8 shirt next term. Here's four of them.
1. Dani Ceballos
Ceballos is the first option. He's left Arsenal, but the possibility of a loan or cheap purchase from a Madrid side desperate to raise money is still there.
Already settled at the club, it would be hoped the midfielder can pick up where he left off last season. After initially struggling for minutes he became an integral player post restart, as the team picked up their first silverware under new boss Arteta.
Despite his best football coming in a deeper role than he might be expected to play in a 4-3-3 formation, if they play it next year, under Arteta's guidance there's every chance he could adapt his game to become a creator further up the pitch.
2. David Brooks
If this kid isn't already high up on Arsenal's transfer list, then they've got some serious problems in their scouting department. Brooks was a revelation in Bournemouth's team last year, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in his first season in the Premier League.
Arsenal have seriously suffered with failing to connect the midfield and attack this season. This is where the young Welshman thrives. A brilliant dribbler, he often beats a man before driving the team up the pitch before threading through a killer pass or taking on the shot himself.
The majority of his football has come on the wing but he possesses all the attributes to become a world-class number eight - don't forget Jack Grealish began as a winger before becoming one of the most coveted midfielders in England.
Capable of playing as either the left of right sided number eight, the prospect of him playing balls between the lines for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Nicolas Pepe to latch onto, should get the Arsenal faithful seriously excited.
With Bournemouth's relegation and injury keeping him out for the majority of last season, Arsenal may be able snag the midfielder for a bargain.
3. Emiliano Buendia
A player so technically excellent with both feet, he has been compared to the brilliant Santi Cazorla. This alone should be enough to get Arsenal fans on board with this deal.
Whilst Norwich have struggled this season, he has shone. This player has it all and could easily slot into Arsenal's midfield or teams even higher up the table. With excellent close control and the ability to pick out a deadly pass when sat close to the oppositions box, he is a perfect player to break through the low block that Arsenal have struggled against recently.
Not just a creator however, he's willing to put in a defensive shift too, something that Mikel Arteta demands of all his players.
Arsenal could have done with the Argentine last season and with Norwich relegated they would be foolish to pass up on the chance to sign him - he's available for around £20m.
4. Dominik Szoboszlai
A player Arsenal have been rumoured to be tracking for sometime, the Hungarian may be the most expensive of the bunch but at just 19, he may be well worth it.
The midfielder has been in sensational form this season, notching up 12 goals and 18 assists in 40 appearances. Granted the majority of these have come in the Austrian Bundesliga, but at such a young age, there's no reason why he shouldn't excel given the chance in England.
A strong, powerful midfielder with technical ability to match, it's no surprise that Arsenal are just one of many clubs tracking the midfielder. The Sun reported recently that Chelsea are also interested.
Arsenal may be wise to move quickly for the young Hungarian rather than risk him becoming yet another player added to the long list they "nearly" signed.