CORDOBA, SPAIN - JANUARY 13: Riqui Puig of FC Barcelona celebrates goal the victory during the Spanish Super Cup match between Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona at the Nuevo Arcangel Stadium on January 13, 2021 in Cordoba Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

CORDOBA, SPAIN - JANUARY 13: Riqui Puig of FC Barcelona celebrates goal the victory during the Spanish Super Cup match between Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona at the Nuevo Arcangel Stadium on January 13, 2021 in Cordoba Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Arsenal News

Arsenal Chasing Barcelona Midfield Sensation

by Ross Kennerley
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Arsenal, Riqui Puig

CORDOBA, SPAIN – JANUARY 13: Riqui Puig of FC Barcelona is wanted by Arsenal (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Arsenal are keen to bring in Riqui Puig from Barcelona this January.

In the search for midfield energy and creativity, the Arsenal net is being cast far and wide hoping to snag a player or two who could make the move to north London and complement the very scare creative resources Mikel Arteta possesses.

A window that has primarily been centred around departures with a view to making room in the squad and lessening the wage bill, three names have made way – two temporarily – with more expected to occur before the window slams shut.

Once key players can be moved on, including Mesut Ozil who is joining Fenerbahce, Arsenal can then start making inroads in the transfer market, setting the tone for another inevitable late frenzy.

The likes of Emi Buendia and Julian Brandt have been heavily mentioned as potential incomings, although in the case of both all talk has died down and January looks like coming too soon to secure either of the pair.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Short-term options such as Isco have also gone cold, but there is one La Liga player whose name has emerged once more in the form of Barcelona’s Riqui Puig. Listed in Pain in the Arsenal’s ‘3 Creative Alternatives‘ back in December, the situation surrounding the Spaniard is as it was back then.

Puig is understandably desperate to succeed at his boyhood club, that road taking longer than he anticipated with Ronald Koeman unwilling to grant him more than 124 minutes of football so far this season. As per Spanish outlet Fichajes, Arteta is the manager most interested in his services, having asked Arsenal to make a move.

Koeman said back in September he would allow Puig to leave on loan to earn regular minutes, a stance he’s since eased up. While the outlet suggest any deal would be complicated to pull off, with still no sniff of first team football, he becomes an increasingly viable option.

Would it work for Arsenal?

Next: Pros & Cons of Puig Move

<p>In the cases where he can’t move the ball up through the thirds with his distribution, he’l gladly do the dirty work himself where his dexterity helps him glide beyond opponents with the ball at his feet. Technically competent, his dribbling is eye-catching.</p> <p>The potential negatives of him joining are clear, though. On a short-term deal, the 21-year-old Catalonian heading to England in the dead of winter coughs up memories of <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/01/17/arsenal-chasing-barcelona-sensation/"https://fbref.com/en/players/12c50af5/Denis-Suarez?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Denis Suarez</a>‘s ill-fated spell in north London. Unable to adapt to the league, methods and instructions, injuries eventually played their part and he had zero impact.</p> <p>How long would it be until Arsenal got to see the best of Puig? While there is every chance he could hit the ground running, his integration and adaptation could mean it’s months before Arsenal get a glimpse of his brilliance.</p> <p>All that aside, bodies are needed in that area, central midfielders who can provide the progressive traits that many of the current options can’t. Puig isn’t a No. 10, but he’d thrive in a midfield trio that could allow Emile Smith Rowe chance to rest.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Mesut Ozil: A Tribute" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/01/16/mesut-ozil-arsenal-tribute-greatness/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/01/17/arsenal-chasing-barcelona-sensation/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/01/16/mesut-ozil-arsenal-tribute-greatness/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Mesut Ozil: A Tribute </a> </div> </div> <p>If available on a loan deal, Arsenal wouldn’t have much to lose, not least since he’s only wages rumoured to be hovering around the £30k-per-week mark. One to look out for.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">