When Arsenal activated Thomas Partey’s release clause in October, they were paying for an instant and significant upgrade in midfield. The engine room has been an issue in recent years and it stands to reason, with Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin all leaving since 2018. (Whatever you think of Coquelin, he was a key part of Arsenal’s midfield at one point). Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi have also left on loan. The rebuilding of the midfield area has been blighted by the failure to secure transfer fees for all but one of the aforementioned. As a result, the club have muddled through, bringing Dani Ceballos on loan- twice- even though the player is...
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