In recent years, Philippe Coutinho has struggled since leaving Liverpool FC for Barcelona, and while on loan at Bayern Munich he has made the headlines for his failures on more occasions than he has been praised. But that seems to have been a thing of the past as the diminutive creator appears to have rediscovered his Liverpool form at Aston Villa, under the tutelage of his former teammate and now Villa manager Steven Gerrard.
Since joining the Villa on loan in January, the playmaker has been on hot form, scoring and assisting in the similar fashion he exhibited at Liverpool. He has amassed four goals and three assists in as many as ten league match already.
His addition into the team has added more creativity, attacking threats and varieties to Villas front line movements.
Though he’s on loan from a Champions League regular (bar this season) Barcelona, Coutinho’s blazing performances in the Premier League might tempt him to consider a permanent move to a Premier League side, depending on if Villa wins the race to make his move permanent.
Unsurprisingly, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa are set to face stiff competition from Arsenal.
The report disclosed that Arsenal have already initiated contact with the player’s entourage, to facilitate a deal for the Brazilian playmaker this summer.
Arsenal’s current form and hopefully cementing a top-four spot would mean that the Gunners will need to add more depths to their squad as Champions League participation will require proper efficiency and talent rotation amidst the team.
In Coutinho’s position as an inverted left-winger or an attacking midfielder, Arsenal already have seamless talents (like Smith Rowe and Odegaard) occupying the positions but a niggling injury to one or two players will require an equal or even better replacement to fill in the position efficiently and effectively.
Coutinho’s exposure and experience in the Premier League, thanks to his excellent performances will make him an instant hit under Arteta’s mentorship.
The Catalans are already finding their feet under Xavi’s coaching, assembling and signing amazing talents front the Premier League such as Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore.
A slot in Xavi’s team to accommodate Coutinho looks to have been snatched with by Ferran’s incredible goal-scoring ability and form while the recovering of Ansu Fati will further push the Brazilian down the pecking order.
With Coutinho’s current form and contract length, the Catalan side will likely deem it fit to cash in on the playmaker rather than wasting his talent on the bench while his value depreciates further.
Despite being tight-lipped about his future thus far, Coutinho’s focus will surely be on being selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and that can only be realistic if he continues to enjoy his time on the pitch while maintaining his fitness.
If Arsenal could qualify for the Champions League this season, Coutinho would be that perfect signing (as opposed to Willian) that comes along with vast experience, talent and would slot effortlessly into Arteta’s positional style of play.
Coutinho’s bountiful skillset, movements, tenacity, and ability to beat a press can only be considered a match for the Gunners rather than a liability, if and only if, he believes in the project at the Emirates.
