3 Answers to Arsenal’s Midfield Conundrum

#2 Julian Weigl

Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Bundesliga

Julian Weigl started his professional career at 1860 Munich and quickly climbed up the ranks. He captained his 1860 Munich side against Kaiserslautern at the tender age of 18. After the culmination of the 2014-15 season, he earned his big move to Borrusia Dortmund.

He has amassed 85 caps for Dortmund and has been an ever-present in their midfield. Weigl’s biggest assets are his game reading and tactical astuteness. He anticipates what the opposition is going to do and finds himself in the right place at the right time, more often than not.

Weigl is also very gifted technically. He is an exquisite passer of the football and very rarely gives the ball away. In the 2017-18 season, he averaged more than 50 passes per game with an accuracy of nearly 87%.

At Dortmund, Weigl functioned as the only holding midfielder and provided the shield in front of the back four. This allowed the likes of Pulisic, Aubameyang, and Reus to run riot in the attacking third. If he arrives at the Emirates, he would link up with Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and Sokratis, his former teammates.

An exciting partnership between Torreira and Weigl could be on the cards for the Gunners. While Torreira would provide the strength, Weigl would provide the technical ability. This midfield pairing would have the capability to hold their own against any midfield in England.

At 22 years of age, moving to Arsenal is a very enticing prospect for Weigl. However, it won’t be easy for Emery to get hold of Weigl as Manchester City are also keen to swoop in for the lanky midfielder.

If Weigl does end up at the Emirates, the Gunners would have moved a step closer to answering their midfield conundrum.