When Arsenal’s midfield is fully fit and injury-free they are a match for just about anybody in Europe. Alex Song is a defensive-midfielder with the Arsenal philosophy deeply ingrained in his being, meaning that he’s not afraid to break forward whenever he can. Mikel Arteta is one of the calmest, yet efficient players in the Premier League and the rise to prowess of Tomas Rosicky has granted Arsenal increased attacking fluidity. That’s a fully-formed midfield before we’ve even mentioned Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby.
With this much talent involved there seems little point in signing another midfielder during the summer unless some genuine quality can be brought in.
This brings me to Goal’s claim that Arsenal are closing in on Rennes’ Yann M’Vila. Widely regarded as one of world football’s biggest young talents, there are sure to be plenty of clubs interested in acquiring his services by the time that the summer transfer window opens. These clubs will no doubt find themselves spurred on by Rennes’ manager Frederic Antonetti revealing to Radio Monte Carlo that “Yann M’Vila won’t be a Stade Rennais player next season”.
So who’s winning the race to acquire his signature? According to his team-mate Kader Mangane, M’Vila “will join Real Madrid or Arsenal next summer”. So with Arsenal apparently in the driving seat, it’s worth asking the question: would he be a worthy addition?
Though he’s only 21-years-old, he’s well built isn’t afraid to throw himself around. He’s known for his tough, dominating performances in the defensive-midfield position and has even managed to establish himself in the French National team. Given his Nationality, his stature and his position, it’s perhaps unsurprising that he has found himself compared to Patrick Viera. In this case, however, the comparisons between the two players do seem striking.
Nobody knows young French players like Arsene Wenger (though I’m sure Laurent Blanc and Newcastle’s scouts will claim otherwise) so if he’s interested in M’Vila there has to be a good reason for it. I think the key here, is for Wenger to decide whether Diaby has a future with the Gunners. If not, bring in M’Vila to add further competition to the midfield and to make it so that Song isn’t assured of a place.
If he believes Diaby is capable of 30-games per season, then I don’t believe he’d be the right signing.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal snap up Yann M’Vila or seek to bolster other areas of their squad?
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Ahhh… Where then do u leave our most beloved rising star “Coquelin” coz he jst needs 2 start playing consistently nw and Frimpong wen he comes back. We really do not need him.
I think we need some steel in midfield defense&competition to song plus we will not have any worries if Cameroon qualify for AFCON in January,a very crucial period in the EPL,suspension thru yellow cards etc
If he’s available for less than £20m,then wenger should go for him.if not,go for Dempsey. He’s available for cheap and can also score goals.
I’ve only seen M’Vila play twice but he looks strong, calm and technically very good. He’d give Song a battle for his place which would be great as it would drive him to play better but then we’ve also got Frimpong and Coquelin coming back from injury and young Henri on loan at West Ham. That said M’Vila is top class!
Abu Diaby proved season after season that he is so fragile and never fit to play in a big team . Let him go and sign the young tough talent
he is needed.
i got a feeling we could be more solid with him then song.
song goes foward too much and it is not needed.
attacking we are one of the best teams no need for song to attack so much.
we need someone just to sitt deep and not cross the mid half of the line.
but even so having him and song in the same squad will be better.
song has played alot if he got injoued sometime this season we would of been very short.
like of frimpong and coqulin are great but both are young best if thet spend 6 months in a low team in the PL.
When u consider the fact that we have 3players more than capable of replacing Song at the dm position then u know we wont get him
The fact you think Diaby and Ramsy are possible good assets to arsenal is a joke and a disaster!
Arsenal fans should wake up and stop living in dream land !
Real clubs have real midfield.
Ramsy is a joke. A failure that no team can ever want. No club has ever asked for him or can accept such quality. Yet we praise him as if he’s the next messy!
Repeated weekly flops and misses only Arsene and British fans enjoy !
Arsenal need to sell the British/welsh crap and start building a real team !!
Jack is average. Nothing more. Gibbs is pathetic yet we accept his average quality as amazing. Jenkinson is a joke.
Wake up and be realistic you blind fools.
Arsenal were great cos of the foreign stars!
Luckily the true 25 million arsenal supporters outside England know this!
thomas
what planet are you on?
jack is average?
it is a real worry when people like you can write such utter rubbish.
@ tomas you are some amazin fool!!!
m’villa yes he is good bt d question is can arsenal keep all there players,i dont tink so if arsenal can keep all of dem,den bringing him will make sence,dat will make us look very strong in midfield bt if we cant keep all of dem den we ave no reason to bring him in cos dis crop of players nw ave already understood der selfs and dey can coop wit eachother so i tink its beta we look to strenghten other areas dan dat midfield,d ones we ave nw can match any midfield of any team next season belive me.
@Thomas
you know nothing about football for saying all that about our players, you said no body bid for ramsey what of intermilan that bid 25m or willing to trow player to the deal for 15m
gibs is just 21 now how many players of his age delivered as such in a league of such intensity?
You are totally wrong about jack but i think is because you’ve never see the boy in action before. Ask those who know him well they will give you his absolute account e.g bolton coach, barca coach, arsenal coach or balloteli, xavi, iniesta, rooney e.t.c
Another one is jeckinson @ tender age of 19yrs he never play a league match in his former club he dont even make reserve because he was on loan and not included in their starting line up when we sign him and he was trow to play under such intensity @ first he was scared taking ball back and fan were hangry but in his 3rd you see the confident he drible easily and neatly mark and won the ball then driven forward and become the talk of all fans that they dont trust he has such skill. If not for little injury he sustained we would have see his skills during sagna injury problem.
So beware of my boys they will soon be unleased and signing youngs is our ways and if you are not okay back down there lots of ticket in man city for grab so grab yours before it too late. Gunner even in the next life!
Harry,
I think you wrote a good article but I completely disagree with some very poor comments that Song is not that good and that he should just sit at the back.
Song is the BEST DM we have and his contributions going forward have been much needed in the past (against Chelsea (he sets up Santos),Everton, Man U (locking down Rooney – although we lost at home),liverpool (he sets Walcott on the wing before the cross to Verminator) Dortmund( he sets up RVP)…etc.
Song is one of the very best DM in the EPL and sadly, I believe, the most underrated player in Arsenal (Scott Parker is nowhere near). Once Song is injured or missing (like early Season), we ship goals. No-one can replace and do the work he does so consistently. he is one of the very rare midfielders who understand the movements of both RVP and Walcott on the pitch… n wonder the only boot RVP has ever kissed in Arsenal is that of Song…check the facts.
M’vila is good, no doubt but please, he has not proven much yet. Let’s get in him and sell Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey (little contrib, slow the game down so much, not even a poor’s man Fabegras), Yossi (to go back to Chelsea and let’s have a solid midfield with Song, Arteta, Wilshere. Song and Wilshere complemented themselves so well last year and so do Song and Arteta… the point is that he is a definite starter. Take a chance and try loosing Song for Juve this year and you will understand his value.
Song is not even on 70k when he is far better than Yaya toure, M Essien, and any of the ManU MD who are on 150k +
Just a refresher for u guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sMS07yOyrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypM0PHmtWg0
Wats diaby got to do wit it..!!?? Not even same position question is does wenger think coquelin n frimpong will take arsenal forward.. If not sign m’vila..!!
Tomas U????? ought 2 ??????? a formula1 or motogp fan. U????? knw notin about but am sure U?????. Are jst a 6yrs old mighty fool 4 saying dis thrash.which team do U????? support?
yes get him.
his qualities are exactley what we need.
diaby if fit is an outstanding footballer but he is useless defending in the air, check that out.
our season has been devastated by injury. we need more players and m’villa looks the best available to me.
we’d all like a hazzard or gotze but who will leave to accomadate them?
we need m’villa and a top class number 10 hole/striker option.
I think that Thomas is an armchair critic who has most probably never kicked a ball in his lifetime. The only transfers arsenal should go in for, is a steady central defender and a proven goal scorer like RVP. The team has enough young talent and two veterans Arteta and Rosciky who could guide the team. In my opinion the maximum each player should play during the season not more then thirty games with each player given a rest in between, particularly when Arsenal have to play at least three times in a week.
Do Arsenal supporters a favour Thomas get lost and let Mr Wenger carry on his good service by providing entertaining football.