Arsenal have signed Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan for the 2019-20 season with an option to buy at the end of the campaign.
The Gunners released an official statement announcing the signing: “Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos is joining us on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
“The 22-year-old made 13 La Liga starts for Real Madrid last season.”
And speaking about the transfer, Unai Emery said: “We’re excited to see Dani join us. He is a talented player with big technical ability, creativity and precision.”
But according to Steve Nicol, signing Dani Ceballos was not the current decision from the Arsenal think tank.
The former Liverpool defender has claimed that strengthening the defensive line was a much more urgent job as compared to bringing in a new midfielder during the current summer transfer window.
“I’ve got to say, when I’m looking at Arsenal, I’m thinking ‘right, they need to strengthen, no question’,” Nicol said.
“But their problems are all defensive, at the back and in the middle of the park.
“And when you’ve already got Mesut Ozil, why are you going out and getting Dani Ceballos?
“You certainly can’t play both of them in the same team. So that means you’re going to play him ahead of Ozil? He’s a good player yes but as I said, Arsenal’s problems aren’t going forward.
“They score goals, they excite the fans, but they can’t defend.
“Dani Ceballos doesn’t help them in that department.”
