It would be fair to say that Dani Ceballos has endured mixed fortunes at Arsenal so far this season, having signed on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in the summer.
The 23-year old Spaniard started the season as a key player in Unai Emery’s plans, before a significant injury lay-off saw him drop out of the club’s first team, while his disappointing performance levels hampered his game time following his recovery.
In recent weeks however, the Spain international has emerged as an important player for Mikel Arteta, having turned around his domestic form for the Gunners while also citing a complete change in behaviour as a key part in reigniting his season.
This has left Arteta with a decision to make in the summer, with Arsenal not having a permanent option in Ceballos’ loan deal.
If Los Blancos did decide to sell the midfielder in the summer, the Gunners should consider making a move to bring the player back to North London, if all parties can come to an acceptable agreement.
At just 23, Ceballos has plenty of room to continue growing and improving as he further settles into the rigorous nature of the Premier League, and he could prove to be a long-term success if picked up now.
Currently the Spaniard has a better successful passing ratio than Mesut Ozil, or indeed any other player in the Arsenal squad, with a score of 88.9 per cent (WhoScored). Furthermore, Ceballos also registers the joint-third most key passes per game, behind just Ozil and Nicolas Pepe.
Ozil’s presence in Arsenal’s side has seen Ceballos play the majority of his games in a deeper role for the Gunners this season, putting him at a creative disadvantage as he excels best in an advanced role.
Should Ozil leave the club in the summer, with his future constantly in a state of uncertainty, Ceballos could flourish by being handed a more prominent attacking role.
If Arsenal are aiming to strengthen their squad in the summer, they should first consider bringing Ceballos back to London before focusing on further recruitments.
