[Analysing Alex Baena to Arsenal transfer] Mikel Arteta has done a great job at Arsenal since his appointment at the club, restoring Arsenal’s status as a force in Europe and England while narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Pep Guardiola’s Man City. At the core of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal revolution has been rebuilding the defensive spine of the team with the recruitment team placing priorities on physicality and athleticism.
But halfway through the Premier League season (2024/2025), it’s becoming evident that Arsenal’s missing piece towards a trophy-laden season would most certainly be in the attacking department. Mikel Arteta’s side has looked laboured in the final third, with their attacking patterns looking predictable and easier to neutralise than in previous seasons. Summer departures of a host of attacking talent raised some eyebrows with Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and, more particularly, Fabio Vieira leaving the club last summer.
Fabio Vieira – a failure at Arsenal?
Fabio Vieira was signed as an understudy to club marketing, Martin Ødegaard, but struggled to make an impression on the Spanish coach and could only manage 9 goals and 3 assists in 49 appearances across two seasons for the Gunners.
The Portuguese playmaker struggled to keep up with the physical demands of the league, often lacking the time and space to find teammates in open spaces. With the confirmed long term injuries of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta’s side are now left with only four fit attacker’s across the second half of the season.
Alex Baena Arsenal transfer
Arsenal have now been forced to explore attacking options in the January transfer window with reports of a rumoured move for Villareal’s Alex Baena. The 23 year old Spanish midfielder who has a market value of about $45 million has had an impressive campaign this season with 9 goals contributions for a struggling Villareal this season.
Capable of playing across multiple positions in attack, Alex Baena’s versatility makes him an enticing prospect for the London club, and perhaps Mikel Arteta might have found what the combination of physicality and technique he was looking for when he signed Fabio Vieira.
What he brings to the table at the Emirates?
Alex Baena’s technical ability and composure in the final third have been qualities Arsenal have recently lacked, with the Spanish midfielder being a reliable ball progressor. He ranks in the 99th percentile in La Liga for shot-creating actions with an impressive rate of 6.32 per 90 while boasting 6.74 progressive passes per 90. Coming in from the left wing as a right winger, Baena’s technical quality in possession could be a vital asset for Mikel Arteta.
With an average of 3.5 key passes per game, Baena’s potential combination play with a marauding Kai Havertz could be a potential title-winning partnership. He has created 52 chances for Villarreal in La Liga this season, which is 31 times more than Gabriel Martinelli’s 21 for the Gunners. Baena is also a good ball carrier which would be useful when teams sit deep against Arsenal with an average of 3.09 carries into the final third per 90.
Though not at his prime yet and with his defensive numbers far from being reliable, it’s clear that Arsenal possesses enough physically and defensively minded players to cover for his physical weakness in defensive duties. It might be a rumoured move, yet Baena’s potential in this Arsenal squad could be a ceiling raiser.
