The only real focus for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta at current will likely be to information the membership to what can be a primary Premier League title since 2004, with the Spaniard needing to fend off former membership Manchester Metropolis over the approaching months to assist realise that ambition.
The 41-year-old will, nonetheless, even have one eye on how his aspect could be improved even additional forward of subsequent season, with the Gunners little doubt hoping that this marketing campaign is an indication of issues to come back, somewhat than turning into a mere anomaly.
With the summer time switch window on the horizon, one space that the north Londoners could want to bolster is the midfield ranks, with Arteta more likely to be eager to amass a younger addition, with a purpose to complement the skilled trio of Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and January arrival, Jorginho.
In line with a report from Soccer Insider earlier this month, one potential goal for the title hopefuls may very well be Southampton starlet, Romeo Lavia, with the Emirates outfit amongst a handful of elite golf equipment who’re within the Belgian teenager.
The piece means that the 19-year-old may very well be up for grabs this summer time if the Saints are to endure relegation, with the south coast at present discovering themselves on the foot of the desk and two factors from security.
The assumption is that Arteta and co are ‘upping their curiosity’ within the thrilling sensation, though may face intense competitors from the likes of Chelsea and Man Metropolis, with the latter membership stated to carry a buyback clause of round £40m, after permitting Lavia to maneuver to St Mary’s for simply £14m final summer time.
The highly-coveted gem – who may now be value as a lot as £50m – has loved an actual breakthrough marketing campaign at his present aspect to this point, with it no shock that golf equipment are actually circling to safe his signature.
Ought to Arsenal signal Lavia?
The Brussels-born “monster” – as hailed by journalist Benjy Nurick – has racked up 19 top-flight appearances up to now this time period for the Saints, 16 of which have come from the beginning, with the teen scoring as soon as in that point.
Such vibrant kind – which has seen the midfield maestro common 1.9 tackles and one interception per recreation – has additionally earned reward from BT Sport pundit and Premier League legend, Paul Scholes, who stated of his abilities earlier this season:
“He has received a go in his locker and he’s massive and robust and likes to defend. He doesn’t need to get ahead an excessive amount of and sits in-front of the again 4 and units the play in movement from there.”
Whereas there could also be doubts over Lavia’s relative inexperience at senior stage – having solely made 26 first-team appearances for the Saints and for Metropolis – Arsenal can look to the success of one other teen star whom they plucked from Southampton up to now, within the type of Theo Walcott.
The latter man – who’s now a teammate of younger Lavia in Ruben Selles’ aspect – was snapped up by Arsene Wenger for an preliminary payment of round £5m again in January 2006 on the age of simply 16, having impressed within the first half of the 2005/06 marketing campaign after netting 4 targets within the second tier.
The pacy ahead was then memorably included in England’s 2006 World Cup squad regardless of his youth and inexperience, earlier than swiftly establishing himself as a key determine in Wenger’s aspect over the subsequent few years.
Though the 5 foot 9 speedster wouldn’t completely fulfil that early promise, he did go on to attain 108 targets and supply 80 assists in 397 video games for the Gunners over the subsequent decade or so, notably successful three FA Cups in that point, earlier than departing for Everton in 2018.
The hope can be that Lavia may emulate and even higher his membership colleague if he’s to hyperlink up with Arteta this summer time, with it doubtlessly set to be one other Walcott-esque masterclass for the north London outfit.
