According to Calciomercato, Arsenal wants to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon to strengthen their midfield. Granit Xhaka currently plays the role of a no.8 and has put in some good performances in the midfield. However, he is not best suited for that position and someone like Lucas Paqueta can immediately improve Arsenal’s game in that area.
Moreover, Xhaka’s future at the club also remains uncertain. Some talks suggest that Roma will be making an attempt to sign Xhaka at the end of the season. Xhaka’s disciplinary record has also not been that great as he has received a lot of red cards. The Gunners have to reduce the number of red cards they get as it has impacted their results in some situations.
Arsenal does have Mohamed Elneny but he has a contract that expires at the end of the season. That leaves Arteta with only one experienced player and that is Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian international will need a suitable partner alongside him to trouble the big clubs in the league. Lucas Paqueta will be a huge improvement from Granit Xhaka as his natural position is the no.8 role.
Paqueta has become an important part of the Lyon squad and also of the Brazil international team. He has won the Copa America with Brazil in 2019 and was included in several Team of the Year lineups. He would certainly elevate Arsenal midfield and could be a long-term player as he is only 24-years-old. Paqueta would instantly transform the Arsenal midfield to fight against the big clubs.
How Lucas Paqueta could help Arsenal if the deal takes place?
Lucas Paqueta has better agility than Xhaka which helps him become elegant in the midfield. His smooth gameplay will also help the Gunners to create smooth chances as they usually do and also break down defense who sit back and defend. Moreover, he also knows a few of the players at Arsenal already like Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes as Edu has a liking for Brazilian players.
Paqueta has scored 10 goals and assisted 5 in 33 appearances in all competitions this season. He also makes 1.7 tackles while completing 1.2 key passes per game. He also takes 2.7 shots and completes 2.3 dribbles per game (stats via whoscored). These stats suggest that he is a great tackler and also an eye for a killer pass with an occasional shot.
Paqueta could perform at the best of his abilities if he has someone experienced like Thomas Partey besides him. Moreover, if Arsenal does qualify for the Champions League next season, Paqueta will be more than thrilled to join the Gunners. He will be playing at the highest level against top players and in a more competitive league.
Lucas Paqueta is valued at £31.5 million which does seem fair for a player of Paqueta’s quality. Moreover, Arsenal will be competing against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United to secure the signature of Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian international might attract even more competition by the end of the season as his quality suggests and the value might drop as he will complete one more year at Lyon.
Follow us on Twitter for regular football updates
