Five replacements for the injured Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

Losing Jack Wilshere to injury was bad enough for Arsenal, but now injury to club captain Mikel Arteta will destabilise them further.

With Aaron Ramsey also recovering fitness, January’s transfer window cannot come soon enough. The Gunners are odds-on at 4/6 to secure a top four finish with Coral though, if they lose any more players and don’t recruit in the winter window, it could be a big ask.

As a result, we have come up with five defensive midfielders/deep-lying playmakers for Arsene Wenger to sign, with Arsenal needing to strengthen.

Grzegorz Krychowiak
The Polish midfielder only signed for Sevilla in the summer, though has made an immediate impact, helping to shore plug a gap in the Bathtubs’ midfield. He would add much-needed steel to the Gunners’ midfield and, at just 24, can be at the top of the game for a number of years. Also able to chip in with a goal and an eye for a pass, he is the perfect long term replacement for Arteta.

William Carvalho
Was constantly linked to Arsenal in the summer, and impressed at the World Cup with Portugal, putting in mature performances. It appeared Wenger was put off by Carvalho’s release clause, believed to be in the region of £37m, and instead snapped up Calum Chambers from Southampton, with the aim of converting him into a midfielder.

Sven Bender
The German midfielder is an option, though Borussia Dortmund have lost both Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in recent seasons, to fierce rivals Bayern Munich. It is likely any player from Jurgen Klopp’s first-team would cost a premium and, even though Bender is one of their less glamorous personnel, a fee of around £25m would still have to be shelled out.

Asier Illaramendi
Wenger may opt to continue the relationship he has with Real Madrid and make a bid for their 24-year-old deep lying playmaker, who has been compared to Xabi Alonso. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco are keeping the ex-Real Sociedad man out of the team, and then there is Sami Khedira to consider.

Marco Verratti
There have been tentative links to the Italian in past year, though nothing has materialised. Compared to a young Andrea Pirlo the 22-year-old PSG playmaker has an abundance of talent, and will only get better. Should Wenger decide to move for him, he will cost a premium.