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Arsenal: Five Replacements for Özil

By s.a. rose

Jul 28, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger speaks during a press conference after the MLS All-Star game between the MLS All-Star Team and Arsenal at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger speaks during a press conference after the MLS All-Star game between the MLS All-Star Team and Arsenal at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Isco, Real Madrid

There are not too many clubs that Özil would choose to go to over Arsenal but one could see a return to Real Madrid.  With their current form, it is questionable if Madrid even needs to do any business this transfer window.  The upgrade that Özil would provide as an attacking midfielder would be a bigger move than what either La Liga title chasers Barcelona or Atletico Madrid could expect to do this January – even if Barcelona are allowed to disrupt Liverpool’s push for the top 4 and steal Philippe Coutinho.  If Özil is sold to Real Madrid, it would need to be in a cash plus player deal and this would likely suit both teams as Arsenal would want to try to replace the attacking talent at the club’s disposal and Özil would take the playing time (and then some) of one of Mateo Kovacic, Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez or Isco.

In this situation, the likely player to be included from Real Madrid’s side would be Isco.  James can still command a 50 million plus transfer fee, Asensio is one for the future and Kovacic has been outplaying Isco this season using the eye test and according to whoscored.com.   There is no argument that Isco is talented enough to get into the first team on most EPL clubs and his passing, vision and technique are perhaps not as strong as Özil’s but an upgrade over any midfielder currently in the Arsenal squad.

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