Arsenal have had their fair share of defensive issues already this summer. I suppose this isn’t all that unexpected. Whilst fans were generally pretty pleased with their clubs signings in the last transfer window, most felt that Arsene Wenger had left his club woefully short of decent defensive options.
With both Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen moving on in the summer, The Gunners were letting go of two of their most experienced defenders. It doesn’t help either that their two defensive midfielders, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, are now a year older and are starting to look a little ineffectual.
Mathieu Flamini is struggling to influence games at the moment, whilst Mikel Arteta is struggling to get game time due to a lack of fitness.
Already this season, we’ve seen teams like Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and even Hull City exploit these weaknesses. Arsene Wenger needs to do something about this – as soon as possible. The longer he dawdles, the more goals The Gunners will concede.
Of course, there’s not much he can do at the moment. He’s going to have to wait until the January transfer window before he can pull the trigger on any potential deals.
This brings me to The Metro‘s claim that Arsenal should go ‘all out’ to sign Southampton’s highly regarded defensive midfielder, Morgan Schneiderlin. I can’t help but agree. The source also suggests that the Frenchman could cost around £25m, so this deal won’t come cheap, but it’s still worth pursuing.
Schneiderlin is just 24-years-old (so he’s 6 years younger than Mathieu Flamini) but he’s already proven to be a great fit for the Premier League. He’s great on the ball, makes smart decisions and he’s capable of picking out a pass. Arsenal, on the other hand, will probably be more interested in his tough tackling and his strength in the air.
Given his Premier League experience, it shouldn’t take him too long to adapt to a role with The Gunners. He’s certainly good enough to make an impact at The Emirates.
What’s your take? Should The Gunners be interested in this Southampton star?
Please follow @ThePerfectPass for more football related action!
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.