Noted journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Douglas Luiz could be a viable option for Arsenal this summer, as he is not expected to extend his stay at Villa Park. And Football Insider understands that the Gunners are lining up a move for the 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder.
The Gunners were linked to a host of midfielders in the winter transfer window. Denis Zakaria, Arthur Melo, Ruben Neves and Bruno Guimaraes were some big names to be associated with a move to the Emirates. Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz was another name to pop up at the tail-end of the transfer window. However, the move failed to materialize as Villa failed to bring in his replacement, Rodrigo Bentancur.
Luiz has a contract that runs until 2023. A striker remains the topmost priority for Arsenal, but Mikel Arteta also does require reinforcements in the midfield. Mohamed Elneny looks set to depart, leaving Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga as the only first-team midfield options for the Spaniard to select from.
Aston Villa are also reportedly open to allowing the former Girona midfielder to leave. John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey are Steven Gerrard’s preferred choices as interiors. Luiz has been utilized as the holding midfielder but could struggle for minutes after the return of Marvelous Nakamba.
Furthermore, Gerrard is said to have identified two replacements for the Brazilian. The former Liverpool captain has identified Kalvin Philips and Yves Bissouma as key targets in the upcoming transfer window. Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton insists that both these players will be an upgrade over the former Manchester City midfielder:
“I think they’ve got more ability going forward. Douglas Luiz, quite simply, sits back and defends. He can be over-aggressive at times, but I understand that comes with the position.
“But I think if you look at Bissouma, Kalvin Phillips, their range of passing, what they can do moving forward, they can play it in midfield a different way to what Douglas Luiz can.
“I think he’s just a defensive midfielder. The other two guys can play as a number eight or six. They’ve got more about them.”
Luiz has been a crucial part of Villa’s set-up this season, under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard. The 23-year-old has made 28 appearances, with one goal and three assists to his name (stats via whoscored). He has also earned a call-up to the national side and made 6 appearances in the World Cup Qualifiers.
A transfer to Arsenal could serve as a win-win-win situation. Aston Villa have the opportunity to free up space and funds for a new midfield signing. Douglas Luiz has worked with Arteta at Manchester City and could try to establish himself as a regular at Arsenal. Arteta’s double pivot set-up could allow the Brazilian more positional freedom and defensive security than Gerrard’s 3-man midfield.
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Furthermore, in case Partey gets injured, Luiz could look to get regular minutes at the Emirates. Lokonga’s inexperience means Luiz will be ahead of him in the pecking order for now. This could also boost the 23-year-old’s prospects of making the cut for Tite’s final World Cup squad.
Arsenal are realistically looking at European football next season. This would mean more games and tighter schedules, especially towards the business end of the season. Luiz could be an affordable signing that adds more steel to the midfield, without hindering Edu from spending handsomely on a centre-forward.
Should Arsenal sign Douglas Luiz? Are there any other midfielders the Gunners should target? Let us know in the comments.
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Douglas Luiz is Mohamed Elneny, with shorter hair.
In the middle of the pitch, Arsenal need a central midfielder who can score and provide assists and a reserve defensive midfield player to partner with Partey to see out games, provide injury cover, and allow for squad rotation. Elneny is a good squad player, but like Cedric, his presence on the pitch is a big banner saying “We’re not good enough for top four!”
If Arsenal are going to replace or find a partner for Partey, Bissouma, Kalvin Phillips or or Tomas Soucek are obvious choices. If a back up to Partey is the job they are recruiting for, Luiz is a fine, if a costly option given Artyeta’ tendancy to use a small squad. If the Gunners are looking for a true central mifielder, James Ward-Prowse, John McGinn, Declan Rice, and Youri Tielmans are some obvious options. Rice would be the “World Class” option, with Tielmans right behind him. Ward-Prowse is highly under rated and probably more affordable, while McGinn would be costly, but offer the kind of durable, high-impact player Arsenal are hungry for.