Kieran Gibbs thinks Arsenal should try to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The January transfer window is open and the rumours are starting to swirl in a crazy way, none more so than for Arsenal.
During the festive period, Mikel Arteta’s quest for the Premier League title came to a screeching halt as West Ham United and Fulham suffered worrying defeats.
The lack of goals, especially from open play, has left fans wanting their team to sign the striker.
But former left-sided defender Kieran Gibbs believes that Arsenal would be better off strengthening the midfield instead and thinks Douglas Luiz could be the right choice, as he told ESPN.
One big obstacle for the Gunners is the price that would be on the Aston Villa star’s head, he is his side’s best and most important player, not forgetting that Unai Emery has them second in the Premier League standings.
But Kieran Gibbs, who could be sorted out by a possible “replacement”, as he has thrown out the names of Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.
Douglas Luiz to Arsenal?
“In my opinion, if you don’t you’re going to get a striker and go on the attack and try to blow teams away,” Gibbs said.
“Then you’ve got to strengthen the midfield and try to close up shop. They’ve kept one clean sheet in their last seven games. That’s not the Arsenal we’ve seen in the last 18 months.
“It’s probably best to go for someone like Douglas Luiz.
Arsenal don’t have the money to buy Luiz: ‘Yes, you can change players. There are certainly deals to be done there. There’s Emile Smith Rowe. Eddie (Nketiah). There are other players. There are certainly deals to be done.”
Aston Villa in a strong position
The Midlands have been with the Brazil international before, at the time he turned down a move to the Emirates and signed a new contract.
Now Villa are in a stronger position as Luiz’s contract runs until 2026 and he is above Arsenal in the Premier League standings.
It’s not that the seven-goal midfielder was never for sale, everyone has a price, as they proved with Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City.
But it will take serious money to get Luiz from a club that wants to qualify for the Champions League.