Arsenal have reportedly added Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia in their January transfer shortlist, as they look to sign a new playmaker.
According to Football.London, Arsenal’s hunt for a new playmaker has led them to Emiliano Buendia. The Norwich City star has been identified as one of their potential targets as we head closer towards the start of the January transfer window.
The North London giants are yet to make any formal efforts to sign Buendia. However, the player, despite his current commitments with Norwich City, has refused to rule out a potential move to Emirates in January. Arsenal could also have a boost in their pursuit of the Argentine as they have a strong connection with the player’s representatives.
Following yet another disappointing start to the campaign, Arsenal’s interest in Buendia is hardly surprising, as they have indeed found it difficult to provide any sort of creative inspiration this season. The wide attackers in the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Willian have been beyond awful while Reiss Nelson has been lucky with a lack of chances.
More importantly, the Gunners, perhaps due to a variety of reasons, have ostracised star playmaker Mesut Ozil. The German is not even included in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad and is yet to feature since Project Restart. And with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it appears he is destined to leave Emirates in the summer.
It could accentuate Arsenal’s need for a new number ten, with Buendia appearing as an appealing alternative. The 23-year-old was one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dire campaign for Norwich City last season, notably leading the Premier League in terms of chances created per game.
In fact, it was surprising to see the Argentine not earning a move back to Premier League in the summer. It has, nonetheless, paved the way for Arsenal to make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
Buendia has already impressed in the Championship this campaign, notably being involved in seven goals in ten matches. He has managed to combine with chance creation with an adequate amount of productivity and it bodes well for an Arsenal side who are looking for both this season.
Therefore, Buendia is indeed a viable option for Arsenal, though it would perhaps be a wiser idea for Mikel Arteta to explore other options. Isco, for one, has recently emerged as a target for the Gunners, so it will be interesting to see what transpires over the next couple of months.
