Defensive midfielder linked with Arsenal in early summer joins Bayern

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Marc Roca, a defensive midfielder linked with Arsenal early in the summer, has completed a move to Bayern Munich.

In June, Spanish outlet La Razon claimed that Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were favourites to snap up the 23-year-old from Espanyol.

According to The Express, Arteta is a known admirer of the talented enforcer and wanted to bring him to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

Speculation on that front has petered out since then, with Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar subsequently emerging as Arsenal’s main midfield targets, according to the press.

Meanwhile, Roca has joined the Bundesliga champions and Champions League holders from the relegated Catalan club, penning a five-year contract.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, Bayern paid 15m Euro (around £13.5million) for the former Spain Under-21 ace.

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Roca is a high-calibre midfielder with excellent vision and passing range, both long and short, plus nimble footwork and quick thinking, and has been compared to Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso in the past, according to Football London.

That speculation linking Arsenal and Roca petered out following those initial reports is disappointing, given he’s effectively become Thiago Alcantara’s replacement at Bayern, while the Gunners still haven’t signed either Partey or Aouar.