Milinkovic-Savic could be the game changing midfield signing Arsenal need

 

Maurizio Sarri may have been unable to guide Lazio to a top-four finish, but there is no denying the Rome giants were one of the more entertaining sides in Serie A last season. Only Inter (84) scored more goals than Sarri's side (77), while 58 goals conceded was just two fewer than relegated Genoa. If the neutral fan sought entertainment, then the blue half of the Olimpico was the place to go. 

 

Ciro Immobile was the focal point in attack, netting 27 times to take home his fourth Capocannoniere, and supplying the ammunition for the Italy international was Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serb finished 2021/22 with 11 assists to his name, that the fourth most in the division, seven of which were for Immobile, marking the best assist-to-goalscorer combination in Italy's top tier. 

 

Freed from his shackles by Sarri, Milinkovic-Savic was a colossus in the Lazio midfield last season, providing a quality link between midfield and attack that enabled Italian side to score so freely. Along with Domenico Berardi, the 27-year-old was one of just two players to register double figures for both goals and assists, netting 11 times to go with his 11 assists. A WhoScored rating of 7.36 was his second best in a Serie A season as Milinkovic-Savic put in the performances he has proven capable of churning out in the past. 

 

 

There was a time when the midfielder was one of the hottest names on the market and he has previously been linked with a big money move to the Premier League. However, his performance levels dipped and having been priced out of a move away from Lazio, Milinkovic-Savic remained in Rome. Now, though, after yet another excellent campaign for the Eagles, his name is once again donning gossip columns. 

 

Arsenal, fresh from their big money acquisition of Gabriel Jesus, are reportedly looking to bring in another central midfielder this summer, with Leicester's Youri Tielemans one of those linked with a move to the Emirates. Yet might the Gunners turn their attention fully to Milinkovic-Savic now? Talk of Tielemans' potential move to north London had cooled, though it's obvious why Arsenal are seeking to secure a goalscoring midfielder in the off-season. 

 

Between the four main central options Mikel Arteta called upon last season - Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny - they directly contributed to just eight league goals between them in 2021/22. Tielemans alone had a hand in 10 Premier League goals last term, scoring six times, but the Belgian's return is blown out of the water by Milinkovic-Savic. 

 

Yes, Arsenal have already added Fabio Vieira to the ranks, and the young Portuguese star is able to play in central midfield, but the 22-year-old assist machine is viewed as cover for Martin Ødegaard rather than to play as one of the midfield anchors in Mikel Arteta's 4-2-3-1 system. 

 

Having largely operated in a 4-3-3 for Lazio last season, Milinkovic-Savic would need to play alongside a more defensive minded central midfielder were Arteta to use him in a 4-2-3-1, but in addition, his arrival would increase the possibility of the Gunners boss switching to the former system if required. In truth, too, it's not as though Milinkovic-Savic is a slouch off the ball having made 1.9 tackles and 1 interception per 90 in Serie A last season, so while it may be a waste of his attacking talent to use him in a midfield pair, there is at least the option to use him in the role if required. 

 

This versatility in the middle of the park could be well utilised by Arteta were Arsenal chasing the game. An additional attacking threat operating from deep would help the Gunners pile the pressure on opponents were they chasing the game and considering the sheer size of Milinkovic-Savic, he'd be tough to stop when he does get going. 

 

Having reportedly had an initial bid of €55m reportedly rejected by Lazio, Arsenal will be aware that Milinkovic-Savic won't come cheaply, but he is a player certainly worth spending big on. He'd tranform Arsenal's midfield, that goes without saying, and if the Gunners are serious about returning to the Champions League, he is the sort of game changing capture they need to be making.

Milinkovic-Savic could be the game changing midfield signing Arsenal need