Do Arsenal really need this £38m midfielder?

Before Arsene Wenger blew everybody’s mind during the summer, by spending £42.4m on Mesut Ozil, he was chasing an entirely different German International.

During the summer, Arsenal were thought to be after Schalke youngster Julian Draxler. My guess is that Arsene Wenger found himself put off by the 20-year-old’s £38m price-tag (that’s the cost of his release clause), especially with Mesut available for just a few million more.

As a result, a deal never came and Draxler ended up staying in the Bundesliga. Still, that hasn’t stopped the ruminations about his future and the suggestions that Arsene Wenger could move in for the player once again.

Recently, Draxler spoke to the Press about the growth of German football:

“In the last few years the Bundesliga has had a really positive development and is now one of the top leagues. You could see that by the sides in the Champions League final. We can win major European titles now. 

“English football and the Premier League is also one of the best. I have had chats with Andre [Schurrle] about it but my focus is with Schalke.” (Source The Mirror)

It looks like Draxler is coming round to the idea of staying with Schalke. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed by this. He strikes me as a footballer in the Arsenal mould.

It may seem strange for Arsenal to move in for yet another creative midfielder, especially such a costly one. But this kind of viewpoint fails to account for Arsene Wenger’s nature and the way he tends to behave in the transfer market.

The Professor loves crafty, technically gifted midfielders (Draxler certainly ticks both these boxes). He’s also adept at developing the stars of the future.

Finally, he’s not afraid to sign players in positions that his club are already strong in. The summer addition of Mesut Ozil more or less proves this. As long as the player can improve Arsenal’s first team, they are an option.

The longer Arsenal wait, the better the chance of Schalke selling at a lower fee (as the player’s contract runs down). I just hope that Arsene Wenger doesn’t let this one slip through his fingers.

What’s your take? Do the Gunners really need another midfielder? Should they be looking at Julian Draxler?

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