Arsenal’s summer has been defined by midfield reconstruction. The arrivals of Martin Zubimendi for £51m and Christian Norgaard for £12m have already transformed the spine of Mikel Arteta’s team, yet reports persist of a potential move for João Palhinha at around €30 million. The question isn’t whether Arsenal need more midfielders – it’s whether they need the right type of midfielder.

The current Arsenal midfield presents a fascinating tactical puzzle. Declan Rice remains the cornerstone – a box-to-box presence who excels at breaking up play but offers genuine threat in transition. Martin Ødegaard provides the creative spark, threading passes and orchestrating attacks from deeper positions. Zubimendi brings technical excellence and press resistance, while Norgaard adds physicality and aerial dominance. So where does Palhinha fit into this increasingly crowded picture?

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The Defensive Disconnect

Here’s the reality: despite their summer spending, Arsenal still lack a pure destroyer. Rice, for all his qualities, is too valuable going forward to be anchored in a strictly defensive role. Zubimendi is more conductor than combatant – superb at dictating tempo but not the aggressive ball-winner Arsenal occasionally need. Norgaard offers physicality but lacks the mobility to cover ground effectively in Arsenal’s high-press system.

Palhinha represents something different entirely. During his Fulham days, he averaged 4.2 tackles per game and 2.1 interceptions – numbers that dwarf anyone currently in Arsenal’s squad. He’s the specialist screener who can sit deep, break up attacks, and allow Rice to push higher up the pitch. This isn’t about replacing anyone; it’s about tactical evolution.

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The Rice Liberation Theory

The most intriguing aspect of a potential Palhinha signing is how it could transform Rice’s role. Currently, Rice operates in a hybrid position – covering defensive duties while contributing in attack. With Palhinha anchoring the midfield, Rice could push into more advanced positions, utilizing his late runs into the box and physical presence in the final third.

This tactical shift mirrors what we’ve seen with successful teams worldwide. City’s Rodri allows their other midfielders to roam freely. Arsenal’s system could benefit from similar positional clarity, with Palhinha as the defensive anchor, Rice as the driving force, and Ødegaard as the creative hub.

Why the Bayern “Failure” Doesn’t Matter

Palhinha’s struggles at Bayern Munich shouldn’t concern Arsenal. The Bundesliga champions play a different game entirely – slower build-up, more possession-based, less physical duels. These aren’t Palhinha’s strengths. His game is built around intensity, pressing, and winning second balls – qualities that thrive in the Premier League‘s chaos.

Moreover, Bayern’s midfield was already overcrowded when Palhinha arrived. He was competing with Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and others for playing time in an unfamiliar system. At Arsenal, he’d have a clearly defined role with guaranteed minutes – the defensive specialist in a balanced midfield trio.

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The Financial Logic

From a financial perspective, this move makes perfect sense. Bayern’s willingness to accept a €26 million loss creates an opportunity for Arsenal to acquire a proven Premier League performer at a fraction of his true value. When you consider that Norgaard cost £15 million and offers similar physicality but less Premier League experience, €30 million for Palhinha represents excellent value.

The Portuguese midfielder isn’t just a short-term fix either. At 30, he’s entering his prime years for a defensive midfielder – old enough to offer experience and leadership, young enough to perform at peak level for another three seasons. His contract situation at Bayern also strengthens Arsenal’s negotiating position.

Squad Depth or Tactical Revolution?

The question remains whether Palhinha represents squad depth or tactical evolution. Arsenal’s injury crisis last season exposed their lack of midfield options, but they’ve already addressed that with Zubimendi and Norgaard. Adding Palhinha suggests something more ambitious – a tactical system that can adapt to different opponents and situations.

Against teams that sit deep, Arsenal could play Rice higher with Palhinha screening. Against high-pressing sides, Palhinha’s experience and physicality could prove invaluable. In Europe, where tactical battles are won in midfield, having a specialist destroyer might be the difference between another near-miss and genuine success.

Arsenal’s midfield rebuild isn’t just about adding bodies – it’s about creating a system with tactical flexibility and defensive solidity. Palhinha, available at a bargain price, could be the final piece that transforms potential into genuine title-winning capability.

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The numbers tell a stark story. Bayern Munich signed João Palhinha for €56 million in July 2024, yet the Bundesliga champions are now reportedly willing to sell him for around €30-35 million. That’s a potential loss of €26 million in just twelve months – a figure that would make most clubs wince. But for Arsenal, who reportedly made a concrete approach for the Portuguese midfielder, this could represent the bargain of the summer.

While Bayern’s accountants might see red, Arsenal should see opportunity. The 30-year-old’s so-called “struggles” in Munich have more to do with tactical misalignment than any decline in ability. Palhinha has been plagued by injury issues and has not featured much in his inaugural season in Bavaria, but his fundamental qualities remain intact. Sometimes a player’s struggles aren’t about their ability – they’re about finding the right environment to flourish.

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The Premier League Joao Palhinha We Know

Let’s not forget what Palhinha achieved during his two seasons at Fulham. In his debut 2022/23 Premier League campaign, he made 148 tackles, a huge 48 more than anyone else, winning 84 of them – 27 more than any other player. The following season was equally impressive, as he made 152 tackles, 24 more than anyone else, winning 75 of them.

These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet – they represent a player who dominated the Premier League’s defensive statistics. During his spell at Fulham, Palhinha registered a passing average of 81.5%, his presence helping his team in transition, timing his challenges to secure possession while enabling counter-attacks. In the 2023-24 season, he not only led the entire Premier League with 147 tackles but also claimed Fulham’s Player of the Season award, amassing a dominant 68% of the fan vote.

This is a player who didn’t just adapt to the Premier League – he mastered it. The physical demands, the pace of play, the tactical nuances – Palhinha had already cracked the code. His move to Bayern represented a step into unfamiliar territory, but a potential return to England would be coming home.

Why Bayern’s Loss is Arsenal’s Gain

The reduced asking price fundamentally changes the risk-reward calculation. At €56 million, Palhinha needed to be an instant success to justify the investment. At €30 million, he becomes a low-risk, high-reward acquisition for a club that understands exactly what they’re getting.

Arsenal’s midfield has been crying out for a destroyer – someone who can break up play, win back possession, and provide defensive solidity. Palhinha consistently ranked among the Premier League’s top players for tackles, interceptions and duels won during his Fulham stint. These are precisely the qualities Mikel Arteta needs to add steel to his midfield.

The psychological aspect cannot be ignored either. At Bayern, Palhinha was the expensive signing expected to transform their midfield. The pressure was immense, and when injuries struck, the narrative quickly turned negative. A return to the Premier League would come with different expectations – he’d be the proven performer returning to familiar surroundings, not the big-money gamble trying to prove his worth.

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Perfect Storm for a Bargain

Bayern Munich prefer to sell him to a Premier League outfit, which gives Arsenal additional leverage in negotiations. The German giants know that Palhinha’s best performances came in England, and they’re realistic about recouping their investment.

Moreover, Bayern’s need to generate funds for other targets creates urgency on their side. When a selling club is motivated to move quickly, buying clubs with patience and clear targets often secure the best deals.

For Arsenal, this represents more than just a transfer – it’s a strategic opportunity to solve a key squad deficiency while rivals scramble for less proven alternatives. Sometimes the best signings aren’t the most expensive ones, but the ones that offer the perfect blend of proven quality and value.

Palhinha’s Bayern chapter might be closing, but his Premier League story could be just beginning its most successful chapter yet.

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It’s been quite a while since Sunderland last played in the English Premier League. The Black Cats, however, for the 2025-26 are back in the top-flight after sealing a dramatic promotion against Sheffield United in the Championship Playoff, thanks to a late Tom Watson goal.

And like every other newly-promoted team, Sunderland are looking to strengthen their squad to fight it out with English Football’s best. They have their eyes set on a former Arsenal vet, who is expected to make a shock return to the English Premier League.

The veteran in question? Granit Xhaka. The 32-year-old Swiss midfielder, who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen, and is one of their key midfielders, might once again return to the country where he spent 7 long years.

With Xhaka’s move to Sunderland looking a real possibility, here is a look at Arsenal’s starting XI the last time he played against ‘The Black Cats.’

Arsenal last faced off against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup Quarterfinals with Granit Xhaka as a substitute

It was the Carabao Cup quarterfinals back in the 2021-22 season. On the 21st of December, 2021, Mikel Arteta fielded a rather strong side, with Bernd Leno in goal. Rob Holding and Ben White were the centre-backs. It was White’s first year at the North London club, having arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Cedric and Nuno Tavares were the full-backs, with Mohamed Elneny being the holding midfielder. Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe were at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking midfield, with Nicolas Pepe and Folarin Balogun on the flanks. Up-front was Eddie Nketiah.

Xhaka who was on the bench, came on for Balogun in the 56th minute of the game. It is worth noting that Ben White and Martin Odegaard are the only players who started that evening are still at the club.

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Arsenal Earned A Thumping 5-1 Win Over Sunderland

Arsenal put on a rampant display that evening at The Emirates. An Eddie Nketiah hattrick, a Nicolas Pepe goal midway past the first half and a late Charlie Patino goal sealed the deal for the Gunners. For Sunderland, it was Nathan Broadhead who struck in the 31st minute.

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