Arsenal and PSG are discussing Arteta’s “obvious fit” as a report highlights the importance of  Fabian Ruiz in the team.

According to sources, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have begun negotiations regarding a deal for midfield player Fabian Ruiz.

Ruiz helped Spain win a record-tying four titles, scoring twice and providing two assists, earning him a spot on the UEFA squad of the tournament at Euro 2024.

After Ruiz moved for £20 million from Napoli to PSG in the summer of 2022, things haven’t exactly gone as planned for him at the club level.

In his two seasons with the French powerhouses, he has won two Ligue 1 titles and the Coupe de France, but he has had difficulty locking down a slot in the starting lineup, making just 14 league appearances last season and just four in the previous 14.

Given how excellent he was for Spain in Germany this summer, Ruiz’s lack of playing time is puzzling. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saw enough in that competition to believe that the 28-year-old is the right fit for Arsenal, even though “everything indicating” that one of Ruiz’s countrymen is also travelling to the Emirates.

Transfer specialist Duncan Castles stated on The Transfers Podcast that the midfielder is a “obvious fit” for Arteta because of his pressing prowess and talent on the ball. Castles also disclosed that the Gunners have “initiated discussions” with PSG regarding a bid for the player.

Duncan Castles stated on The Transfers Podcast, “For someone a Premier League club are looking at, he won more balls than anyone else at the tournament and won twice as many in the final third of the pitch as any other player.”

You possess the pressing ability, which is essential to [Mikel] Arteta’s style of play. He makes precise passes with the ball and outduels opponents one-on-one. He appears to be a perfect match for that Arsenal system in many aspects.
According to Transfermarkt, Ruiz is presently valued at €35 million. It is believed that Ruiz and PSG might reach an agreement for the transaction to be structured similarly to the one they used to get David Raya from Brentford, which was a loan move with a one-year commitment.

However, the article states that Ruiz’s transfer is “dependent on Arsenal moving a midfield player out.”

It is unclear if Emile Smith Rowe’s impending transfer to Fulham satisfies that need, and according to other reports, they might consider offers for Jorginho, Thomas Partey, or Fabio Vieira.

On Thursday, Fabrizio Romano asserted that a deal involving Arsenal and Fulham for Smith Rowe was almost finalised.