According to Rosario 3, Arsenal are interested in the services of Ever Banega, with coach Unai Emery keen to reunite with the Argentine international.
It is believed that the Gunners are ready to trigger Banega’s reported release clause of €20 million in the upcoming January transfer window as they aim to shore up their midfield options. But, is he a viable transfer target for the North London giants?
Ever Banega: an ideal fit for the Gunners?
Banega is regarded as one of Argentina’s top midfielders, thanks to his immense success in European football. And it goes without saying that he bags a vast amount of experience, having featured in 266 matches in the Spanish top flight.
Therefore, he is a seasoned campaigner, who shouldn’t take time settling into the Premier League, though his woeful spell at Inter Milan could raise some question marks.
As far as his gameplay is concerned, Banega is known for his technical prowess and competent ball-playing skills that enable him to run the show in the middle of the park. He can manipulate the opposition with his neat passes and tidy movements – making him a tailor-made fit for Unai Emery’s tactical philosophy at Arsenal.
Indeed, the Argentine international has attained an excellent pass accuracy of 85% whilst averaging over 60 passes per game. He has also managed to provide the creative flair in the final third, having mustered 32 key passes in just 16 league outings.
At the same time, however, the 30-year-old is also a proactive midfielder, who does not shy away from a tackle and that is rather evident considering the fact that he has averaged 2.7 tackles per game this season – more than Arsenal’s very own midfield dynamo Lucas Torreira.
In addition, the Sevilla superstar reads the game very well, having averaged over one interception per game while his tally of 0.7 clearances isn’t a bad reading for a central midfielder.
Simply put, Banega’s all-round qualities in midfield will surely benefit Arsenal, who have lacked adequate resources in the midfield department this season, despite Matteo Guendouzi’s impressive breakthrough. And with Aaron Ramsey destined to depart the Emirates Stadium, the acquisition of this Argentine international makes a world of sense for the Gunners.
However, Banega will turn 31 before the start of next season, thus he can’t be labelled as a long-term option for Arsenal. And it would only be wiser for the Gunners to sign one more midfielder in the near future, preferably someone who will be able to take on the mantle after Ramsey’s expected departure. For the moment though, we only see Banega as a short-term option to bring in stability and experience.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
