A simple yet effective play-breaker, measuring in at 6 foot 2 and weighing in excess of 14 stone, the prodigious William Carvalho represents exactly what the Gunners lack in the middle of the park – namely, defensive awareness, height and physicality.
The Portugal international has been on the Emirates radar for some time – certain sources even claiming the Gunners launched a deadline day bid last summer – and the chances of a north London switch seemingly heightened after he claimed the Player of the Tournament award at the summer’s U21 European Championship.
But perhaps due to a stress fracture on his tibia, ruling him out of action until the end of September, Arsenal’s long awaited bid for the 23 year-old never arrived.
He remains a Sporting Lisbon player but unlikely for too long; along with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Real Madrid were all mooted as potential suitors of Carvalho’s during the summer.