Does Xavi Simons to Arsenal make sense?

Arsenal has once again finished second place, in an even more tightly contested Premier League title race than the previous year. Manchester City emerged victorious come the end of the campaign for a fourth consecutive season, begging the question - what do Arsenal have to do to get across the line with the Premier League title in hand?

Unfortunately, for this question Arsenal face, there is no straightforward answer. While Manchester City makes winning the Premier League look easy, it's anything but. Their title-winning squad is constantly being looked at, seeing where investment needs to be made, to ensure quality depth in their squad so that when rotation is required, the level of play remains steady.

Arsenal has been slowly building towards this, with the additions of Jurrien Timber as defensive reinforcement, David Raya to add depth in goal (or just provide a better option), and Kai Havertz as a forward when Gabriel Jesus got injured which was quite often last season. These might not be the biggest names in football, but Arsenal did incredible business with these signings last summer.

Now, Arsenal will look to further boost their squad, and rumors are circulating that they are after Dutch international and PSG midfielder Xavi Simons. While on loan this past season with RB Leipzig, he managed 8 goals and 11 assists in his second consecutive impressive season at just 21 years of age. He's been highly sought after for years, but only just now seems to be truly blossoming into the player that many believed he would become.

Simon's versatility across the forward line and in midfield is sure to draw attention for Arsenal, whose backup creative players in Fabio Viera and Emile Smith Rowe or even wingers such as Reiss Nelson have found life tough - either due to lack of form or injury - and so Arsenal's quest for improved depth leads them to a player like Xavi Simons.

Xavi Simons to Arsenal has its pros and cons, but ultimately, this move makes sense.

Primarily playing from the left side of midfield and on the left wing, I think he has a legitamite chance to challenge and win that starting position ahead of Trossard and Martinelli. After an incredible campagin for Arsenal last year, Gabriel Martinelli had a let down of a season by anybody's standards.

Fast and incredibly skillful on the ball, I think he would fit not only the style of play of Arsenal but also the quality demanded from Arteta. If you don't want to stick him on the wing, that's fine, he can play in an attacking midfield role as a backup to Martin Odegaard. Some fans might not like that idea, but again, quality comes at a price, and depth in that particular position would be welcomed.

One could even argue putting Simons on the right wing and giving Bukayo Saka a rest is a valid option as well. Saka started 35 matches this Premier League season for Arsenal, looking in need of some rest throughout the season. Burnout has come into question on many occasions for Saka, and Simons could provide those precious minutes of rest for Arsenal's young star.

Any way you cut it, Xavi Simons to Arsenal would mean valuable competition for any member of the attack, something most Arsenal fans would agree is needed. The transfer fee and potential obstacles in this transfer saga still remain. With PSG reluctant to sell, and PSV wanting a chunk of the sell-on fee, a loan looks the most likely outcome, something PSG has had no issues green-lighting as they look to keep him in the long-term but see him developed outside of their squad.

If Arsenal can make this deal happen, it would be good business for the present and future of the club (provided they get him on a permanent deal). The project is now clearly established and in need of just a few more difference-makers to get Arsenal and Mikel Arteta over the hump. Xavi Simons could very well be one of those pieces.