Arsenal currently have the youngest squad in the Premier League with an average age of 24.3 according to Transfermarkt.
However, there are a couple of players in Mikel Arteta’s ranks who have hit the age of 30, one of whom is Mohamed Elneny.
With 148 appearances to his name for the north London club, the 30-year-old is set to see his current contract at the Emirates Stadium expire at the end of the season. Therefore, it could be in Arteta’s plans to bring in a suitable long-term heir for the Egyptian.
One player who has been linked with a move to the club and who we feel could be a good candidate to replace Elneny further down the line is Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.
On the final day of the summer transfer window, Arsenal reportedly had a third bid of £25m rejected by Villa for their Brazilian midfielder. This shows just how keen the Midlands club were to keep hold of the player, who Villa manager Steven Gerrard has previously labelled a “wonderful” footballer.
Even though the current Arsenal midfielder has played 30 more games than Luiz throughout their respective club careers, the Brazilian has scored more goals (nine vs seven), won more tackles (178 vs 60) and made more interceptions (149 vs 88) than Elneny.
This showcases some of the areas where the Villa star may be an improvement on the current Gunners ace.
With 109 Premier League appearances to Luiz’s name, during which he has scored six goals and delivered seven assists, this top-flight experience could make it easier for the £32k-per-week midfielder to settle into Arteta’s side, should he end up at the Emirates in the near future.
Bearing in mind how the 24-year-old’s contract at Villa Park is set to expire in the summer, perhaps a move for him in the upcoming January transfer window could be on the cards, as it would give Villa the chance to cash in on him before potentially losing him on a free transfer next summer.
That could be the perfect scenario for Arsenal chief Edu to pounce, bringing in a Premier League-proven midfielder who could fill the void left by Elneny once the latter departs.
