Why Arsenal should return for Carlos Soler after Real Madrid heroics
Back in March, a report from Sky Sports had claimed that Arsenal were interested in signing Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler during the summer window. The report also revealed Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s admiration for the 23-year-old but talks between the two clubs over a potential deal never really progressed.
Profile
Carlos Soler joined Valencia’s youth system back in 2005 and made quick progress through the ranks before making his debut for the club’s reserve side during the 2014-15 season. A year later, he was promoted to the first-team and made his La Liga debut against Real Sociedad back in December 2016.
The Spaniard has blossomed into one of the mainstays of Valencia’s midfield over the past few seasons, accumulating 15 goals and 18 assists in 156 appearances across all competitions. Soler played a key role as Los Che won the 2018-19 Copa del Rey title and also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
Having scored only twice in the La Liga last season, Soler has made a stunning start to the ongoing campaign at the Mestalla. The 23-year-old equalised in injury time to earn his team a 2-2 draw against Getafe before netting a hat-trick in Valencia’s shock 4-1 rout of Real Madrid – all three goals came from penalties – heading into the international break.
Soler represented Spain at U-19 and U-21 levels earlier in his career but remains uncapped at the senior international level.
Soler would be a quality addition to Arsenal’s midfield
Arsenal forked out a hefty £45million before the summer deadline to secure the services of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid as a part of Mikel Arteta’s midfield reshuffle. The likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira were loaned out to make room for the Ghanaian international, who has quickly established himself as a key cog for the Gunners.
Indeed, the arrival of a world-class talent like Partey in North London has added a lot of steel and stability to Arsenal’s deep midfield options. The departure of Guendouzi and Torreira has also opened the door for Mohamed Elneny to re-establish himself in the club’s ranks, with Granit Xhaka now reduced to a bit-part role in the set-up.
Arteta’s side have lacked that much-needed creative spark from the central areas of the park this season.
With Mesut Ozil no longer in the manager’s plans after being omitted from the 25-man PL roster, Arsenal should make it a top priority to bring in a versatile creative midfielder when the market reopens in January. To that end, reigniting interest in Carlos Soler could well solve a lot of problems for Arteta moving forward.
Soler already boasts a lot of experience for a player aged just 23, having made over 150 career appearances for Valencia, including 11 in the group stages of the Champions League. The Spaniard also has a good track record of goals and assists, which clearly lies testament to his pedigree in the final third.
Apart from that, Soler is someone who offers a lot with his versatility to play in multiple positions across the midfield. Essentially a central midfielder by trade, the Spaniard has been utilised in attacking, box-to-box and wide roles over the course of his career in the La Liga. Such a trait would hand a significant boost to Arteta’s squad dynamics.
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Verdict
Carlos Soler has been in red-hot form for Valencia in the La Liga this season. Although all of his 4 goals so far have come from the penalty spot, it would be hard to deny that the Spaniard has clearly taken his game to a new level in the ongoing campaign.
Soler already has a lot of experience at the highest level and still has his best years ahead of him at 23. That said, it should be an absolute no-brainer for Arsenal to start pursuing an interest in the midfielder once again in January.
