Arsenal manager Unai Emery is on the search to add a few players to his side, especially in the central midfield position and has zeroed in on Barcelona’s Andre Gomes, who is currently on loan at English club Everton, as per Liverpool Echo.
Gomes has been a constant fixture in Everton’s side this season alongside Idrissa Gueye, forming a steady and dependable partnership at the heart of the midfield. While Gueye has stolen the limelight with his energy and tackling, Gomes has quietly gone about his job in midfield with his neat passing and technical superiority.
Everton are keen on keeping hold of Gomes and signing him on a permanent deal, but Arsenal, as well as Roma and Inter Milan, are interested in the Portuguese international.
Will Gomes strengthen the midfield?
Arsenal currently have a crisis of sorts in midfield as one of their most influential midfielders over the last few seasons, Aaron Ramsey will leave the club at the end of the season, joining Juventus on a free transfer. Another Barcelona loanee, Denis Suárez, has had a miserable time at the Emirates, which leaves Emery with Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, and Mohamed Elneny – who aren’t midfielders who can win Arsenal the league.
Gomes would be a serious upgrade on the current crop of midfielders that Arsenal have, and more importantly, a player who can give cover to the Gunners’ frail defence. Arsenal have conceded 50 goals this season, which is 28 more than the top two in the league, Manchester City and Liverpool. While not a physically strong player who can bully the opposition, Gomes’ good positioning sense can help the Arsenal defence distribute the ball quickly while forming intricate patterns in midfield which has been replaced by a one-note approach this season, especially in the away games.
The 25-year-old midfielder is a tall presence in the middle of the park, and a great passer of the ball, who can control the tempo of the game with his short, quick passes from midfield. Gomes can be a player who carries the ball to the attackers, linking the midfield with the attack. While he may not be a player who can score a lot of goals or assists, he is a quality player that keeps the tempo up and the ball ticking from defence to attack.
