Barcelona have made their first signing of the summer by bringing in 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder Arthur.
Expectations are high around Arthur due to his playing style drawing him comparisons with Andres Iniesta. He is seen as the type of midfielder needed to revitalise an area which has started to drift away from its traditional strengths. Ernesto Valverde utilised a 4-4-2 formation last season because of the solid defensive platform it provided in big games for Barcelona rather than the traditional 4-3-3.
Arthur’s experience has been limited to the Brazilian league, so it may require him a bit of time to adjust. Europe is of a generally higher standard tactically than the South American leagues. However, the 21-year-old did win the prestigious Copa Libertadores with Gremio, which was the hardest competition he was involved in.
Barcelona have taken a gamble, but it’s a promising sign from the board. The willingness to invest in top prospects to work alongside the La Masia talents is refreshing. Here are a number of reasons why they will be rewarded for this bold decision…
Squad needs
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Midfield is an area of the squad which is in need of rejuvenation because the key players are ageing. 34-year-old Andres Iniesta has left the club after a long and successful career with the club. Ivan Rakitic is 30 and Sergio Busquets will be the same age when the season starts. Paulinho was often used as the fourth member of the midfield, and he would have also been 30 when the season came around, but he has re-joined Guangzhou Evergrande on loan with a purchase option.
Two important departures and ageing key members suggests that Arthur’s arrival is timely for Barcelona. He will help form a new-look midfield alongside Philippe Coutinho, and should provide Busquets with much-needed support. Rakitic is an excellent option to have even if he isn’t as technically gifted as the three players mentioned because he is tactically versatile and a tireless workhorse.
Carles Alena and Denis Suarez will also be competing for places, so this is an exciting period for the Catalans. A club legend may have moved on, but it gives a chance for other players to make a name for themselves. There is a real opportunity for Arthur to assert himself as a member of the first-team for the long-term future. Therefore, this is also great timing for him personally because there hasn’t been an easier route into the first-team for a long time.
A designated deep-lying playmaker is an area that the club have been lacking in since Xavi left. Therefore, Arthur fills a key need for the team for the long-term future assuming he is able to adapt to the demands of Barcelona’s style.
Skillset
Arthur is hugely talented for a 21-year-old because he is able to read the game at a level that most players only develop through years of experience. His maturity in that regard means that he should be able to fit into Barcelona’s style even though there are high technical and tactical demands.
Rakitic is a talented footballer, but he often lacks ambition with his passing which hurts the progression of the team. Arthur has the range of passing to be a deep creative threat, which will be key in the midfield third and final third because of how he can break the opposition lines. Most teams opt to sit back against Barca and rely on an organised defensive shape as well as quick counters to produce a result. Therefore, his ability to be incisive from deep positions will be key.
Xavi’s departure meant that Lionel Messi became heavily involved in build-up as well as being the chief playmaker. The number of roles he takes responsibility for means that there is an obvious reliance on him to get the team through tough spells. His consistent brilliance means that he is able to produce moments of quality in most matches to achieve the desired result. However, the team has come unstuck in the Champions League over recent seasons.
The arrival of Ousmane Dembele and Coutinho will certainly help the Argentine in the final third now that they are key parts of the team. However, Arthur should also become an integral part of the team. He should take some of the burden off him in the build-up stage because he can combine with Busquets to ensure they are able to move the team into the final third. The threat he provides will draw opposition players towards him, which opens up pockets of space behind them that can be exploited.
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Messi can focus on being a constant nuisance between the opposition lines while Luis Suarez and Dembele stretch the opposition vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the little genius should pick up the ball in dangerous areas from where he can work his magic. Consistent service is key in order to get the best out of him, and the link formed between him and Arthur will be crucial to that. Bringing in a player that can aid Messi while also being vastly talented himself is certainly a worthwhile investment for the club.