Clement Grenier is more or less your typical Arsenal signing. Which is to say, he’s French and he’s young (just 22-years-old). The fact that he ticks these two boxes has many fans sighing uncontrollably. Arsenal fans have so much pent up frustration, that every action the club makes seems to provoke a negative response.
And when you’re smack bang in the centre of a poor patch, there’s nothing more frustrating than watching your side continue to make the same mistakes. Much has been made of Wenger’s reliance on youth at the expense of ready-made, experienced individuals. Fans have reached a stage where they’re desperate for immediate success.
They just aren’t willing to wait for players like Clement Grenier to come good.
But this is a knee-jerk reaction. Each individual player needs to be judged on their individual merits. In this particular case, I think Wenger is making the right decision. I think he’d be an exciting addition for the Gunners and would help create a well-rounded squad. Clement Grenier is already a good player.
The fact that he’s already played for France at his age should speak for itself. Grenier is best known for his fantastic technical ability (ticking another Arsenal box), his confidence with the ball at his feet (he’s happy to take people on and has the skill to beat them) and the fact that he’s something of a set-piece specialist.
He’d play just behind the striker at Arsenal and would likely get more game-time than you’d expect. After all, Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby have suffered a slew of injury problems, Andrei Arshavin has moved on and Tomas Rosicky isn’t getting any younger.
Except for Diaby, he’d be the only Arsenal midfielder capable of beating his man. His creativity, imagination and flexibility would make the Gunners a considerably more flexible side.
With all this in mind, I was disappointed to see The Mirror claim that Grenier could be about to sign a contract extension with Lyon, that would see him stay in France until 2015. Don’t do it Clement!
This is despite the fact that Grenier is quoted as saying the following earlier this summer: “I have more or less made a decision about which club I want to join. I have made the choice for sporting reasons above all. Arsenal? It could well be them.
There would be competition for places, but you get that at all big clubs and it does not stop me making my decision.”
It sounds like he has his heart set on the move. All Arsenal need to do is get their act together. For once, I’m sincerely hoping that Wenger snaps up yet another French starlet – this one looks like the real deal.
What’s your take? Are the Gunners right to pursue Clement Grenier?
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Reminds me a lot of Kaka. Sign him up please.
Clement has all what it takes to be an Arsenal player for both current and long run (versatile). Please go for him before it is too late