Rafinha’s injury problems could see Arsène Wenger avoid making an approach in January, despite the recent reports linking the two.

Rafinha is a versatile central midfielder, who has played as a winger on the left and on the right in the past. That would surely to make him the perfect addition to an Arsenal squad lacking quality depth in midfield and at risk of losing Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil next summer.

However, Rafinha has been struggling with injury problems for years now. After a cruciate ligament rupture in September 2015, Rafinha has suffered seven more different injuries.

In that 2015/16 season, the Brazilian missed 48 games, and his new issues in 2016/17 caused him to miss another 42. That’s 90 matches in just two-and-a-half seasons missed for a variety of different injuries.

The Gunners have Jack Wilshere’s injury problems to deal with, as Wenger slowly rehabilitates the player back to his best again. Then Santi Cazorla is struggling through his many surgeries to try and get out on the pitch in January. The last thing the club need at the moment is another patient for the medical room.

For all the criticisms Granit Xhaka has faced since his arrival, he’s only missed 10 days with injury, and that’s what Arsenal need now, players who can go for a season without being forced into spells on the sidelines. Rafinha feels like a backwards step in that regard.