Transfer Centre

How Arsenal could line up with Dominik Szoboszlai next season

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 26 June 2020

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up next season should they complete a deal for Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

Arsenal are looking increasingly likely to miss out on European football next season and attention has already turned to improving their squad.

The coronavirus pandemic has effectively ruled out any big-money arrivals turning up at the Emirates Stadium this summer, but plenty of other more affordable options are available.

One of those is Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who has contributed 15 goals and 22 assists from his 58 outings for the Austrian club.

More importantly, the Hungary international is said to be up for grabs for around £25m - no wonder the Gunners are reportedly desperate to get a deal over the line.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up next season if they do indeed finalise a deal for Szoboszlai.

Possible ARS XI with SZO

Szoboszlai is a central midfielder by trade and, given his impressive goals and assists tally, it is no surprise that he prefers operating in a more attacking position.

The 19-year-old could be used as part of a midfield three or, as in our predicted lineup, in more of a hybrid 4-2-3-1 that will give a nice balance to the side.

Mesut Ozil clearly has no future at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal are in need of a player who can make that central attacking position his own.

Uncertainty also surrounds the future of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but assuming he stays then it is likely that he will operate from the left again next term.

Reiss Nelson has done well when called upon this term, meanwhile, but Nicolas Pepe is a £72m winger and Arteta quite simply has to use the Ivorian more regularly.

Through the middle, meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette is the obvious choice, but Arteta has made clear that he is willing to give youth a chance, so Eddie Nketiah has an opportunity to nail down that position for years to come.

That is also true at the back, where Pablo Mari and William Saliba are expected to form a solid partnership, while in holding midfield it is a choice of two from Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock.