Arsenal recently handed Francis Coquelin a new long-term deal, but it’s not yet clear if he’s going to be a long-term solution. The Gunners have often been accused of lacking steel and resolve in the centre-of-the-park. Whilst Coquelin is a better option than Mathieu Flamini (and probably Mikel Arteta, for that matter), I can’t help but wonder if Arsene Wenger could do better.
Coquelin’s performance against Manchester City was sublime, but he’s only been so-so since. I thought he was disappointing against Tottenham (but then more or less every Arsenal player was). It’s also worth considering that Arsenal were strongly linked to Southampton’s holding midfielder, Morgan Schneiderlin during the January transfer window. Perhaps Arsene Wenger is still on the hunt?
This brings me to The Metro‘s claim that Arsenal ‘are ready to sign’ Lyon’s defensive midfielder, Maxime Gonalons. This isn’t the first time that The Gunners have been linked to the Frenchman. Indeed, the source notes that Arsene Wenger has sent scouts to watch him in action on numerous occasions throughout the last two years. Could The Professor finally be about to make his interest concrete?
Gonalons certainly looks ready for a move to a big club. He’s been with Lyon since 2009/10 and he’s now made 224 appearances for his current paymasters. At just 25-years-old, he’s managed to earn 6 caps for the French international team. I’d say it’s about time for him to take another step up. Arsenal could provide him with this.
The aforementioned source claims that Arsene Wenger has ‘personally requested’ the signing of Maxime Gonalons and note that he could cost the club as much as £14.8m. That’s a lot of money, but it’s probably the going rate for a quality defensive midfielder.
Gonalons is on the verge of his best years as a professional footballer. Now’s exactly the right time for Arsene Wenger to make his move. Maxime Gonalons and Francis Coquelin would be a far more effective defensive force for Arsenal than Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta have been.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal finally attempt to seal a deal for Maxime Gonalons?
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