How Arsenal will line up with Moises Caicedo

Cameron Smith

• 21 Apr 2023 10:10 BST
• 4 min read

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo was inches away from joining Arsenal during the January transfer window, and the Ecuadorian appears determined to sign for the club this summer.

Caicedo, 21, wrote a letter to Brighton owner Tony Bloom in January, handing in a transfer request amid serious interest from the Gunners. He also thanked Brighton fans on social media, with most expecting him to leave.

Instead, Brighton rejected the advances of Arsenal and banished Caicedo from the training ground until the January window slammed shut. He was even omitted from their matchday squad to face Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup on 29 January.

READ: Arsenal face Balogun problem as new club enters transfer race

Arsenal quickly turned to Chelsea's Jorginho to plug the hole in the midfield, but interest in Caicedo has remained bubbling away.

Now, a move to the Emirates Stadium seems more likely than ever following Caicedo's quotes in a recent interview. The Ecuador international told the Telegraph: "Who do I want to win the league? Arsenal, of course."

He added that he was "really close to signing” and admitted the late breakdown of talks “hurt” him a great deal.

He continued: “I’d seen a lot of Arsenal before knowing that there was a possibility of me signing for them. I watched them and I liked them because they have very young, talented players and some stars but they always have that mindset of wanting more.”

READ: Only one thing stands between Arsenal and Caicedo after come-and-get-me plea

With Arsenal still in the hunt for a new central midfielder, it's highly likely that Caicedo will finally join Mikel Arteta's side.

How Arsenal will line up with Caicedo

Arteta will have to decide whether to use Caicedo as a single pivot (Thomas Partey's role) or as a more advanced number eight (Granit Xhaka's role).

Caicedo has the quality to perform either role and he's proven that at Brighton. During the final six months of the 2021/22 season, he played more advanced due to the presence of Yves Bissouma alongside him in midfield.

However, he's solely been used as a pivot player under first Graham Potter and now Roberto De Zerbi this campaign.

It's likely Caicedo will play in both positions at Arsenal, with that versatility one of the attractions of signing him. His best role seems to be the more defensive one, with his ability to break up play before distributing it forward proving so effective at Brighton.

But, Xhaka is arguably a weaker player than Partey, meaning Caicedo may be preferred in that role to start with. In time, however, the Ecuador international will likely drop back into his best position.

Aaron Ramsdale will continue in the sticks, with Benjamin White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko the first-choice back four.

Martin Odegaard with be accompanied by the aforementioned Partey and Caicedo in midfield, while Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will provide the goals in attack.