Why Arsenal would want to sign Everton's Amadou Onana

The wheels have slightly fallen off Arsenal's Premier League title charge in recent weeks, with the Gunners suffering successive defeats in the English top flight.

A resurgent Liverpool, a surprise Aston Villa and a consistent Manchester City mean Mikel Arteta's side have their work cut out for them if they want to go one step further than they did as runners-up last season, all while competing in the Champions League.

As the Gunners start to stumble, there have been the usual calls for Arsenal to strengthen in the January transfer window. The latest player touted with a move to north London is Amadou Onana, the Everton midfielder having shone at Goodison Park since joining the Toffees in 2022.

Despite heavy investment last summer, Arteta does find himself a little short in midfield, especially with his peripheral players frequently finding themselves in the treatment room.

Perhaps Onana could be a solution for the Arsenal boss?

Why Arsenal want Amadou Onana

An all-action central midfielder, Onana has a lot of exciting qualities, but his physicality makes him a tantalising prospect for Arsenal. The Belgium international has a slender frame and tall build, but is fierce in the tackle and dominates aerial battles.

Onana wins 2.47 aerial duels per 90 in the Premier League this season, putting him in the top four percent of the division's midfielders. At just shy of 6'2, it's hardly surprising the 22-year-old is so powerful in the air.

The former Lille man, who can play as a deep-lying midfielder or in a more advanced role, is capable of being destructive in the engine room, ranking in the top 20% of midfielders for tackles (2.81), tackles won (1.71) and tackles won in the attacking third (0.48) per 90 in the Premier League, a skill that makes him indispensable for Sean Dyche at Goodison Park.

Onana can clearly lead a press, albeit he is often asked to sit deeper for the Toffees. He averages 7.13 ball recoveries per match in the Premier League this season, significantly more than Declan Rice (5.22). While this largely comes down to the difference in tactical approach between Everton and Arsenal, it highlights Onana's capabilities as a ball-winner.

Onana can feature further up the pitch as a box-to-box midfielder, but the Belgian doesn't stand out when it comes to attacking metrics. Again, Everton's approach likely hinders his underlying offensive numbers, but he has a pass completion rate of just 84% this term - a lower total than any of Arsenal's defensive-minded midfield players.

Onana has also registered just one goal contribution in 16 Premier League appearances this term, with unspectacular numbers when it comes progressive passes and carries, as well as touches in the final third.

Where Onana could thrive for Arsenal would be in a deep playmaking role. The midfielder is someone with the capacity to act as a defensive barrier to William Saliba and Gabriel, as well as being able to retain possession and offer the ball to the Gunners' more creative outlets.

The Everton man, whose best attributes are arguably his defensive ones, could sit in the holding position, performing the function that Jorginho currently does for Arsenal in big games. However, he has far greater mobility, endurance and versatility than the Italian, and he could help unlock Rice in a number eight role.

Arteta has been keen to use Rice in a more advanced position this season - a role the £105m man can thrive in with some fine-tuning. Onana's introduction would facilitate the Englishman's development in said role, while also offering Arsenal an energetic midfielder capable of helping them press with even greater intensity across the pitch.

The latest news on Amadou Onana to Arsenal

While no concrete move has been made for Onana yet, various sources have indicated that the Gunners are keeping close tabs on the midfielder, eager to pursue him in the current January window.

The young midfielder would set Arsenal back somewhere between £50m to £70m, a far from unsubstantial fee. While the Everton man has enormous potential, Premier League experience and some highly desirable attributes, the Gunners may be hesitant to part with such a large sum given their investments last summer.

Everton's current financial predicament means they may be willing to cash in on Onana this winter, although Arsenal would likely need to raise funds through player sales to facilitate a switch.

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