Arsenal want Carlos Soler but the midfielder has indicated that he is very happy with Paris Saint-Germain having only joined them over the summer.
Mikel Arteta has been using his midfielders in interesting ways.
Arsenal don’t really play a strict 4-2-3-1 these days, instead using Thomas Partey as more of a lone holding midfielder with Granit Xhaka playing high and wide, just like Martin Odegaard.
That gives Arsenal more of a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 look at times, and Arsenal may well recruit midfielders who can play in that specific high and wide role.
Playmakers who have history playing centrally and out wide could be ideal, just in terms of knowing those areas of the pitch and knowing positions to take up.
Arsenal want Carlos Soler
An intriguing rumour emerged last week with Arsenal targeting a player who fits that description perfectly.
The France Bleu 100% PSG podcast report that Arsenal still fancy signing PSG midfielder Carlos Soler.
PSG only signed Soler over the summer as they struck a deal worth around €21million (£18million) for the Valencia star.
Soler has yet to nail down a regular starting spot though and has only started four league games for PSG as well as one in the Champions League.
That situation has maybe given Arsenal some hope of a deal for Soler, a player Arteta wanted to sign in 2020 according to Sky Sports.
Given that Soler has played as a central midfielder, playmaker and wide player, you can understand why Arteta may think that he can play in that Arsenal midfield.
It doesn’t exactly sound like Soler is angling for a swift PSG exit though.
Soler, who is currently at the World Cup in Qatar with Spain, has told Onda Cero that leaving Valencia for PSG was difficult given his emotional connection to the Spanish side.
Soler added that he is ‘very happy’ with PSG and now believes that he is helping the team more after a ‘learning period’ upon his arrival in France.
“It was a very thoughtful decision, obviously, because it is not easy to leave your home,” said Soler. “I had been there all my life, but I wanted to leave, take a step towards a great club, a European top, try fight for titles, try to play as much as possible and I’m very happy right now because I’ve had a learning period there, but I think this last month has gone very well, I’ve played more, I’ve helped the team,” he added.
That sounds like Soler isn’t exactly expecting a January exit and a move to Arsenal now seems a touch unlikely.
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