Why Arsenal are right to chase this Everton contract-rebel:

After successive wins against Borussia Dortmund and West Brom, things are finally starting to look up for The Gunners. After the defeat against Manchester United, the ‘Wenger Out’ crowd were the out in force. This week should help to silence them for a little while longer.

But to shut them up for good, The Professor is going to need to invest in his defense this January. He’s going to need to add one or two world class players who are capable of making an instant impact at their new club. Let’s hope that he’s ready to do exactly that.

With Mikel Arteta out with a long-term injury, Arsene Wenger will be forced to pin his faith on Mathieu Flamini, a player who often lets games pass him by. The Frenchman is small, physically unimposing and not particularly nippy. He’s also getting on in years. He’s not exactly the ideal choice for a holding midfielder. This is another area that Wenger may need to look at this January.

This leads me neatly on to Arsenal’s rumoured interest in Everton midfielder, James McCarthy. According to The Express, The Toffees have been struggling to tie The Republic of Ireland international down to a new long-term deal. This could leave the door open for The Gunners to swoop in and get their man.

I’m not sure that McCarthy is the physical presence that Arsenal really need, but he’s better than the options they currently have. He’s a player in the Mikel Arteta mould. He’s hard-working, talented and he’s good both on and off the ball. He’s faster than both Arteta and Flamini and he covers a lot of ground in each and every game.

I can see why he might have some appeal to Arsene Wenger. If he’s struggling to find other options (is Sami Khedira not available? What about Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho?), then I certainly wouldn’t turn my nose up at this deal.

What’s your take? Is Arsene Wenger right to target this Everton star? Who else should they be looking at during the January transfer window?

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