Arsenal opinion: Should the Gunners make a move for Bruno Fernandes?

Football London (h/t O Jogo) has reported that Arsenal are the latest club to enter the race for Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes. The attacking midfielder has been a phenom in the Liga Nos and is by far Sporting Lisbon’s best player.

At the moment, Sporting Lisbon sit in third place and are eight points behind the league leaders. The fact that there are still four games left in the season should play a big part in the proceedings, especially since all three teams are unbeaten in their last five games.

Bruno Fernandes has been a big part of that run for Sporting Lisbon, with the 24-year-old missing just one game in the Liga Nos this season. He’s scored 16 goals and created 11 more in the league alone, with his total in all competitions sitting at 28 goals and 15 assists.

For any player in the world, those are incredible numbers but that’s not the only reason for Arsenal to consider a move. The Gunners need a replacement for the outgoing Aaron Ramsey and while Fernandes plays as a number 10, the 24-year-old has shown his abilities in a deeper role this season.

With a 6-foot frame at his disposal, the Portuguese is tall and strong enough to hold up play, before releasing the ball just in time. A creative genius anyway you look at it, the 24-year-old has a stunning catalogue of passes.

He has an accurate and powerful long-range shot, is a dead-ball specialist and is very aggressive defensively. That’s what Unai Emery demands from his players, which is why Mesut Ozil has not been picked on a consistent basis.

This season alone, Bruno Fernandes has received 14 yellow cards to his name and has averaged 1.8 tackles per game. It shows his work-ethic and defensive contribution, along with his aggressive streak.

Either way, Fernandes would be a great addition to Arsenal and the 24-year-old has a lot to prove after being a flop in the Serie A. Things could get complicated, with Manchester United (Evening Standard) and Everton (A Bola) also interested, but it’s a move that Arsenal will regret not making.

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Conclusion

Arsenal need a few additions across the board if they want to start competing for the top four and the Premier League title in the near future. Someone like Bruno Fernandes would be calculated risk.