Arsenal Opinion: Why Nadiem Amiri would be a brilliant fit at Arsenal?
Back in November 2018, the Sun reported Arsenal were interested in signing Hoffenheim midfielder Nadiem Amiri at the end of the season.
The German youth international didn’t have the best of seasons in Hoffenheim colours due to a foot injury. He managed just 13 Bundesliga outings, scoring three goals and assisting once.
Even though he is contracted to Hoffenheim until 2020, there is a £15million release clause in his contract that will allow him to leave should any top European club come up with an offer, the report adds.
As far as Arsenal are concerned, they are in need of heavy reinforcements this summer after again missing out on a place in the Champions League.
That has handed manager Unai Emery a limited budget to operate within the ongoing transfer window and so far, he has only managed to sign one player—teenage forward Gabriel Martinelli from Brazilian side Ituano.
The Gunners lacked creativity from midfield last season, with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi not renowned for their invention and ability to consistently pick a pass in the final third. Aaron Ramsey’s departure to Juventus has left a huge void in the squad, which Emery must prioritise filling this summer.
And with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan enduring underwhelming 2018/19, the Arsenal manager should reignite his interest in Nadiem Amiri.
Amiri, 22, has shown plenty of promise at Hoffenheim, though he struggled with a foot injury last season. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old midfielder certainly looks like he could be a superb fit for Emery’s side, who look in need of upgrades in creative midfield roles.
The German youth international is a creative playmaker by trade but he can play in various positions across the midfield as per the manager’s requirement.
Thus, he’ll provide Emery with the tactical flexibility and could play the role of Ramsey following his exit. However, Amiri is at his best when given a free role in the final third, which allows him to bring his incisive passing and accurate crossing into play.
The 22-year-old is a silky operator, capable of finding pockets of spaces in the opposition half and piercing their rearguard with his vision and killer through balls. Apart from that, he is a player with a lot of tenacity and stamina and can contribute a lot to the team with his solid work-rate.
Verdict
Amiri’s lack of Premier League experience and injury concerns make him somewhat of a gamble for the Gunners but he is still only 22, meaning that he has a lot of time to make significant improvements to his game required to thrive in the Premier League.
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With Arsenal in need of more quality if they are to break back into the top four, this deal seems a no-brainer for them this summer.