Thursday, April 25, 2024

Not Khedira: 5 Defensive Midfielders Arsenal Could Sign To Replace Arteta

4.  Javi Martinez

According to The Telegraph’s Jeremy Wilson, Arsenal made an enquiry as to the availability of Bayern Munich’s Spanish behemoth Javi Martinez in May. Wilson claimed “with Martinez having struggled to command a regular place in Pep Guardiola’s new Bayern team, Wenger wants to know whether the Bundesliga champions would be willing to sell.”

The Spaniard, a 6’3” 25-year-old, can also operate as a central defender. However, according to Wilson, the player has a “preference” for a midfield role. Martinez made 18 appearances in the Bundesliga last season. With this in mind, Wenger could look to capitalise on the midfielder’s current peripheral role with the German champions.

Making on average 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and a massive 2.8 clearances per game last season, Martinez finds himself a comfortable mid-point between the other options presented.

Furthermore, with a passing accuracy of 89.6 per cent—indebted to his Basque roots, no doubt—the Spanish international would suit Wenger’s midfield perfectly.

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