At long last, Premier league proceedings are set to start back up again. The drab, football-lacking time forced lovers of the sport to find other avenues of entertainment before it’s slow but steady returning began. Said beginning started with that of the Bundesliga becoming the first division to allow their affairs to launch on the 16th of May. Upon the German top flight’s resuming, a number of players were set to have eyes on them from spectators who they would usually not have watching their efforts.
One player that I was told to keep an eye out for was that of RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer. I was told the industrious Austrian could be just what the gunners gelatinous spine needs, and after watching him on a number of occasions after the Bundesliga was set into motion, I would agree with that notion. Laimer is the engine in which the Arsenal midfield needs to improve it’s metal.
At the moment the area that needs to most attention and revamping along with the defense is the midfield. In my opinion we need both an attacking midfielder and a defensive one too. There is also an easy argument that can be made for us needing a more creative central midfielder as well, however I do not personally deem that position a priority given the fact I actually rate Granit Xhaka, unlike most people. But that is neither here nor there. Laimer is the individual that could fill the defensive midfield void, and there is a number of reasons as to why he would be the ideal man to do so.
Laimer’s intense work rate, versatility and attacking output indicate that the Austrian would be an ideal signing for Arsenal and head coach, Mikel Arteta. The former Manchester city number 2 seems to really have an admiration for workhorses who are capable of doing multiple jobs and Laimer fits that bill perfectly. In terms of his multiskilled ness, the Austrian can also play as a more traditional central midfielder (a number 8) and even a right back. Given the fact that many people believe we need reinforcements in both the aforementioned areas along with that of defensive midfield, Laimer could provide a patch to all 3 holes in the Arsenal midfield.
Along with his impressive versatility comes an amazing workrate as well. Despite only playing 27 fixtures out of 30 this season for Leipzig, the Austrian still ranks quite high on the table for most distance covered this season. Laimer has covered 257.5 km this season, that equates to roughly 9.5 km per 90-minutes. He covers this much ground despite his incredible positioning that rarely sees him caught out defensively. The reason the Austrian covers so much of the pitch is because he does not only prevent goals from occurring for the opposition, but is also a goal threat himself. When one watches Laimer, it seems as though he is absolutely everywhere.
Laimer has managed an impressive 2 goals and 6 assists this Bundesliga season, even though he is deployed in predominantly defensive roles. The 23-year-old, Austrian engine is a threat on both ends of the pitch and he may be the man in which Arsenal need to add some solidity to our currently fragile spine, but he is also an attacking threat too.
All in all, I believe Laimer could be the man who could fix a number of problems the gunners currently are cursed with, however his signing seems unlikely. In truth, it appears as if Arsenal are keen on Thomas Partey, and it is fair to assume that the signing of the Atletico Madrid midfielder is far more likely than the acquiring of Laimer. While I am not opposed to the signing of the brilliant Ghanaian, the Austrian 23-year-old may provide more metaphoric antidotes to our sickly side than Partey would.
Laimer, who averages roughly 5.59 tackles per game does not appear as if he will be parting ways with Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig anytime soon, however if he does ever do so, and ventures towards North London it would certainly be a signing that should be welcomed with open arms.
Our midfield is lacking an engine, whether it is Laimer, Partey or someone else who fills it, there is no denying, Arteta is surely desperate to fill said void.
Daniel Finton
Proud Floridian ginger being physically burned by the sun and mentally by Arsenal. I like to write stuff and try to be funny, sometimes it comes off.
