With the transfer window barrelling towards us, we thought we’d take a deeper look at some of the players being linked with Arsenal.

Saul Ñíguez has been briefly linked with Arsenal but stories have died down recently. So why would Arsenal be interested in him?

Ñíguez is a versatile midfielder who currently plays for La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

The 22-year-old has caught the eye of many European scouts with his performances over the past two seasons. Importantly though, he has shown consistency when called upon to deliver in a variety of positions this term.

Strengths

Ñíguez is very much an unselfish player and alongside Gabi in a holding midfield role, allows the likes of Carrasco, Koke and Griezmann more freedom to get involved further forward when the opportunity arises.

They work well in tandem and have impressive awareness to scan the pitch for open passing options before making their next decision. Gabi is more tenacious and a willing runner whilst Saúl displays his passing range to good effect, mixing up passing distance depending on the situation.

With five goals and two assists this season, Saúl is a handful for opponents when running forward with the ball at his feet. He shows patience and intelligence to pick his moments in attack, providing an unpredictable threat there. His excellent strike against Leverkusen in the Champions League just reiterated the damage he can create when given space to shoot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP9P8q82Phg

He averages just under two interceptions per game and relishes tackling. In three recent matches (all comps), he completed twelve successful tackles and does so effortlessly. Being able to reduce opposition threats relieves pressure on Atletico out of possession, allowing them a higher chance of winning the ball back quicker when a pass is squandered. Their high-pressure tactic is tiring at times but when reaping the rewards, they can attack with speed on the break.

Weaknesses

His main weakness at present is his inability to concentrate for sustained periods during a match. This can lead to a number of sloppy fouls committed – he has totalled 62 in the league this term, with six bookings too.

There are also other areas that he will be eager to work on. Although his success percentage is 50%, he can improve further when timing his jumps to win possession – especially given how far he can leap off the ground.

He has won 47 tackles in La Liga this season, but lost 95 during the same period. Being beaten in a one-on-one battle for possession or getting bypassed too easily by an opposition attacker are things he’ll look to reduce with time – being mindful of the fact he also needs to be careful with challenges too.

Looking forward

Saúl signed a contract extension in May last year and will be keen to continue asserting his quality at Atletico for the foreseeable future. It’s unlikely that he’ll make a move in the next season or two unless big offers are made and he makes clear his desire to leave.

At 22-years-old, it’s important for him to avoid letting any hype get to his head. Being in an environment under the likes of Diego Simeone will prove pivotal for his development.

There’s no reason why he cannot continue to progress at the impressive rate already shown – but it’ll become harder for clubs to resist making their interest known, especially given whispers of a possible Premier League move last term.

Stats’ source: Squawka and WhoScored