Arsenal may have more money to spend in the summer transfer window than many thought.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Northern Londoners hard, with daily earnings – a great source of revenue in the Emirates – currently non-existent.
But owner Stan Kroenke put a hand in his pocket and gave the club a loan to buy bonds taken at the Emirates stadium when it was built.
And that could free up funds that head coach Mikel Arteta could spend on the transfer market.
Arteta is slowly shaping her team the way she wants to play, with results that have improved over time since Premier League football returned after a three-month hiatus.
He may, however, have some problems to solve in midfield before the new season.
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Dani Ceballos’ seasonal loan deal will end, Mesut Ozil shows no sign of being able to make his way into Arteta’s plans, while Matteo Guendouzi continues to be an enigma.
Could Arteta enter the transfer market to solve her problems in midfield?
Marc Roca is a name that has been linked with the Gunners in the past and Arteta may be tempted to return for the young man this summer.
The 23-year-old has not been at his best this season but his quality still remains, explaining why Arsenal, Everton and Real Madrid have been linked with him.
Compared to the legends of Spain Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets in the past, the role of Roca is defined. He is a pivot in the midfield, the orchestrator of his team’s attacks.
When used at the base of midfield three, Roca often goes deep to collect possession from the central defender or the Espanyol goalkeeper. This gives him time to examine the field and use his excellent range of passes.
Few midfielders can hit a long pass and Roca. He can open the pitch with a millimeter diagonal or he can drop the ball into an attacker’s feet with alarming ease.
His short game is equally effective. Roca constantly makes himself free to create corners for teammates and tries to move the ball forward whenever possible.
And if he is given possession under pressure, he has the agile footwork and speed of thought needed to maneuver in space. In an era of intense pressing, it is a valuable skill to have.
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His release clause amounts to € 40 million (£ 35.8 million), but Arsenal may be able to reward him away for a much cheaper price.
This is because Espanyol, La Liga fund, was demoted on Wednesday evening after a narrow 1-0 defeat against Barcelona.
Roca will not want to play in Spain’s second tier, and Espanyol may be encouraged to sell at a fraction of the price to increase its funds ahead of an attempt to regain immediate promotion on the first flight.
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