Why Arsenal need to seriously weigh up the risk of signing Isco

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Arsenal are being linked (El Desmarque) with a move for Real Madrid and Spain star, Isco. 

The 27-year-old has been in the Spanish capital since 2013, winning a number of trophies with the club. Those trophies have included three Champions Leagues, as well as La Liga in 2017.

Incidentally, that season of the La Liga win was Isco’s best in the white of Los Blancos. The Spaniard contributed ten goals and eight assists in La Liga that year as he finally began to fulfil his massive potential.

But since then, Isco’s form has dropped and been inconsistent. Murmurings of fallings out with Zinedine Zidane have also not helped the cause for the Spanish international.

It goes without saying, then, that if Arsenal do make their move, they will want the player Isco was in 2016/17, not necessarily the one we have seen in the last 18 months.

Too many of the same player

Most football fans would agree that Isco fits right into the mould of a ‘typical Arsenal player’. Technically he is very good and he is the sort of player who excels in the final third with the ball.

The Gunners have had – and still have – a number of these types of player. Santi Cazorla was a success, while prior to that the likes of Arshavin and Rosicky had mixed success.

In the current squad, Mesut Ozil is very much in the same mould as Isco. Both players like to make things happen. Yet both players can drift in and out of games.

Isco’s time with Madrid proves this given his inconsistent selection, while Ozil has had a nightmare 12 months for the Gunners.

Arsenal have to be sure

If you are going to sign someone like Isco, you need to have a plan. There’s no point in simply chucking money at Madrid to not have an idea where he fits into the XI.

Isco has, so far, failed to quite become the main man in a team. Granted, he has done well in Madrid. Indeed, his trophy haul confirms that. However, this year, he’s only completed 90 minutes just once.

What Arsenal don’t want, however, is another luxury player who struggles to nail down a position. They’ve had them before and they have them now with the likes of Ozil, Ceballos, and Pepe.

Isco could be a brilliant signing for Arsenal. On the other hand, he could be just another player. That, then, is the risk the Gunners need to weigh up carefully.