Despite bringing ex-Gunner Mathieu Flamini back into the fold last summer, I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal’s midfield still lacks bite.
The Frenchman is a good option, but at 30-years-old, he’s certainly no spring chicken. I’m just not sure he has the motor he needs to operate as a defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
Whilst he’s capable of competing physically, he’s only 5 foot 10 inches tall, so he’s not the most imposing individual. There’s no doubting that he’s a good tackler, but I can’t help but feel that Arsenal need a little more than this.
This surely explains why The Sun have linked Arsenal to a move for Real Madrid’s ace defensive midfielder, Sami Khedira. The source claims that Arsene Wenger is planning a £23m move’ for the German international this summer.
That’s a lot of money to spend on a defender, but there’s no doubting that Sami Khedira is very good at what he does. He’s an extremely hard-working, covers a lot of ground in every game and loves to win the ball back. He’s always hassling and harrying the opposition and he’s excellent in the air.
He’s also the kind of defensive midfielder who loves to get forward and join attacks whenever the opportunity arises. This is sure to endear him to Arsene Wenger, who likes his players to be as versatile as possible.
You don’t accrue 48 caps for the German international side without having something a little special about your game.
If he’s ready for a new challenge (thanks to injury problems, he only made 18 appearances for Real Madrid last season), then he certainly looks like a good fit for this Arsenal side.
At 27-years-old, he’s probably smack-bang in the middle of the best years of his footballing career. If he were to see them out in North London, I’m sure that few Arsenal fans would complain.
Let’s just hope that Arsene Wenger is also concentrating on bringing in a world-class centre-forward this summer.
What’s your take? Would Sami Khedira make for a smart addition to this Arsenal squad? Is he worth £23m?
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