Could Arsenal Sign Julian Brandt From Dortmund?

Arsenal’s run at the Premier League title might be helping to change the way the Gunners operate, as they’re now linked to one of the more creative midfielders in the Bundesliga.

Julian Brandt, who will turn 30 this year, has opted to part ways with Borussia Dortmund, his club for the past seven seasons. The sides could not agree on a contract, so Brandt will take his services out of Germany entirely, as he’s looking for a club in another country on his next deal.

That club could be Arsenal, which has often been criticized for being less exciting during its run to the top of the table. While the Gunners have kept winning, they’ve done it more by wearing opponents down with good defense, as opposed to delighting fans with flair.

Brandt could help change that. In his seven years with Dortmund, he’s scored 42 goals and added 20 assists. Over the course of 12 Bundesliga seasons, he’s scored five goals or more eight times, including each of the past five.

Would Julian Brandt Fit Well at Arsenal?

Mikel Arteta believes in his system, and he wouldn’t be open to a move like this if he didn’t think Brandt could contribute at both ends. The fact that Barcelona is also showing interest in Brandt suggests that the defensive concerns he’s shown at Dortmund would be resolved with the right talent around him.

Brandt’s defensive work could best be described as inconsistent. When his team is at the top of its game, he’s looked pretty solid on defense. When it’s struggling, his defense has struggled with it. That wouldn’t be a problem at Arsenal, where Arteta has built a culture of discipline from the top down.

His creativity would be what the Gunners really prize. He’s excellent at unlocking defenses and either finding and creating his own chances or starting the play toward a teammate. That’s something that Arsenal has lacked, and it would open up options to allow the Gunners to play a more exciting brand of soccer should they choose.

Does the Price Make Sense?

With a rumored fee of 25 million euros, Arsenal could certainly do worse. Brandt isn’t cheap by any means, but he’s far from expensive for the production he could bring to the Gunners. If he can give Arteta the flexibility to play a more aggressive style in certain matches, that would be worth it on its own.

Whether Arsenal can keep him away from Barcelona remains to be seen, especially given that Barca manager Hansi Flick worked with Brandt with the German national team. But the fact that Arsenal’s involved is a signal that the Gunners want the option to play more exciting soccer, which would be a welcome sight at the Emirates as long as the wins keep coming.