If Ivan Gazidis is to make good on the change he promised this summer, then Arsenal must aim to improve the weakest areas of their team – at this point in time, that would be central midfield.
Intro
Although Wenger conceded last season and bowed to the pressure of the board to spend big on Granit Xhaka (he was initially reluctant to spend as much money on the Swiss midfielder before the board assured him it was ok), Arsenal are still weak in the engine room of the team.
Having switched to a back three, the components that make up the midfield duo have become even more significant than in previous seasons.
In the past, Arsene adopted a variation of a three man midfield with Ozil tasked with connecting the midfield and attack. This often allowed for a partnership of Coquelin, Elneny, Ramsey or Cazorla to contend with all other aspects.
However, with a back three relieving some of the defensive pressure on the midfield duo, Arsene must find a new balance – one of strength, discipline and creativeness that can help to break down opponents and still stand resolutely against other teams.
With this in mind, Wenger must assess whether the current trio of midfielders are up to the task. On the basis of last season, the answer would be a resounding no.
Over the next three chapters, I will discuss the shortcomings and strengths of the three midfielders Wenger should look to improve upon. It’s a long read, so buckle in.
It’s easy to say that Arsenal would improve if they signed X, Y and Z, however this is not how football works; and it certainly isn’t how Wenger thinks.
I believe Wenger still sees Ramsey as first choice for that second midfield spot.
However, there is no doubt that the Welshman as well as Coquelin and Elneny have fallen short of the manager’s expectations and reinforcements should be sought…
Francis Coquelin – the defensive lieutenant
If Wenger is hoping to mount a title challenge then changes must be rung; and the first personnel he should look to improve is at defensive midfield.
Arsenal will have to, at times, admit that they are not the best footballing side on the pitch.
With Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp fine-tuning their playing style, Arsene may need to adopt a counter attacking approach with a strong midfield duo. Xhaka is a perfect component in a counter attacking side. However, Arsenal do not have a defensive midfielder of requisite quality to assist him in his midfield duties.
Coquelin seems to divide opinion hugely.
When paired with Cazorla in 2015, the French midfielder seemed the perfect counterbalance to the diminutive Spaniard. However, rash bookings, poor game management and slowness of thought in his passing game has led to grumblings amongst the crowd.
Aside from an excellent performance against Stoke at the backend of last season, Coquelin failed to impress. With Xhaka dictating from deep, Coquelin was tasked with breaking up play higher up the pitch. However, when he succeeded in winning possession, his limited range of passing often resulted in him simply recycling possession.
N’golo Kante changed the game last year. Although many would have argued in the past that you didn’t need to be six foot plus to play as a defensive midfielder, it is now widely accepted that the best defensive midfielder in the world is only five and a half feet tall.
According to figures from TalkSport, Arsenal were the 18th tallest team in the Premier League last season – with only Manchester City and Bournemouth finishing below them. Arsenal’s standings in this regard may drop further if rumours of Giroud’s departure turn out to be true.
The industrial revolution of the defensive midfielder has shown that hard work, a brain and a self-sacrificing awareness is enough to succeed. Gone are the days of the lumbering, graceless, unwieldy eight foot mountain that has more testosterone than brain cells. This is not to say that height cannot be an advantage, merely that an astute brain is the primary aspect. Knowledge is power.
Arsenal should therefore seek a player who has the quality to play as a defensive midfielder – and if he happens to be an eight foot monster, then all the better.
Although Premier League teams will be asked to pay a premium on any transfer this season, there does seem to be an abundance of defensive midfielders at clubs outside of the elite who could force a move for a reasonable fee…
Asier Illarramendi – the army brat
The first candidate, who has earned glowing reports from Spain, is Asier Illarramendi.
Although he is similar in height to Coquelin, the Spanish midfielder is an excellent reader of the game. He interprets the play in front of him and has a robust nature to his style of play – often at juxtaposition to those around him. After two seasons with Real Madrid, Illarramendi returned to Real Sociedad, where he has excelled in centre midfield.
He is intelligent on the ball, attracts fouls with his close control and completes an impressive 3.1 tackles per game. His discipline and positioning sees him achieve a notable 3.5 interceptions a game. Against teams like Manchester City who utilise David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne’s superb passing range and Liverpool, who employ a high press, his attributes could be extremely convenient for Wenger to call upon.
His style seems regimented – as if he has been an army brat all his life, having to call his father ‘sir’ and ensure that he can see his own face in the sheen of his boots. The discipline he exerts on the opposition seems to be heeded by his own teammates, who often look to him in times of need.
One possible downside to the midfielder is his inclination to see the red mist. In 33 appearances, he was booked 13 times. Sometimes as a result of a smart foul, occasionally as a result of impertinence. His corporal father would be disappointed.
With concerns over Xhaka’s disciplinary record – although the Swiss midfielder’s record this season has been quite good despite what the media would have you believe, the presence of another midfielder who falls foul of the referee could be disruptive in the long term.
Rather surprisingly, the Spaniard has a disappointing pass completion rate – even falling behind Francis Coquelin. Given that he only attempts, on average 69 passes per game, to complete only 84% of them may rule him out of Wenger’s consideration.
The Spaniard is clearly ambitious – evident by his transfer to Real Madrid at a young age. He will not remain at Sociedad for long. Despite moving back to his home town club, the aspiration must be to play for an elite club.
If Arsenal wished to add a disciplined midfielder, they should act quickly. It’s only a matter of time before this army brat moves town.
William Carvalho – a true destroyer
If Wenger is looking for someone who could add a physical presence to the team, there are worse options than midfield powerhouse William Carvalho. The Portuguese midfielder has been on the radar of top clubs for a number of seasons but for one reason or another has never made a move.
The Portuguese midfielder has been a steady influence in Sporting CP’s first team from 2014 and a regular in the national team from the u17s right through to the senior squad.
In contrast to Illarramendi, Carvalho’s total tackles and interceptions per game are less impressive – averaging 1.9 and 1.4 respectively. However, Wenger shouldn’t be dissuaded by his statistics as the midfielder is a monster. He harries and hustles opponents, using his size and bulk to intimidate those around him. He rarely fouls and seldom dives in due to his excellent positioning.
His style of play is not dissimilar to Patrick Vieira as he strides forward out of defence quite comfortably and often passes opponents with ease. In addition to his ability to dribble, Carvalho has a high pass success rate – with a pass completion of 88%.
It was once said that Arsenal could beat a team in the tunnel at Highbury. Players often turned and had to adjust their necks to make eye contact with their opposite number. Vieira, Gilberto, Sol Campbell, even Henry stood over six feet tall. The psychological advantage was often enough to make a team believe that they simply couldn’t beat Arsenal. That threat, for lack of a better word, has been lost in recent years. (Additionally, I’d imagine turning to see Santi Cazorla smiling at you is a different type of disconcerting). But Arsenal need some of that back. They need to look down on their opposition – figuratively and literally. Carvalho could help in this regard.
Despite looking like a potentially excellent addition, questions must be raised over his ability to step up. Summers have come and gone where Carvalho has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea amongst others and yet nothing has materialised.
Modern scouting explores every aspect of a player – from style of play, adaptability to mental fortitude. If Carvalho has remained at Sporting CP until the age of 25, clubs have a right to wonder why.
Yet this is a player who won a European Championship with Portugal last year. Furthermore, the young midfielder claimed player of the tournament in the European Under-21 Championship in 2015. His talent is not in doubt.
So what is? I feel we will not have to wait long to find out, as the midfielder has already begun to drop hints that he wants to leave Sporting CP with TalkSport reporting that Newcastle United are set to bid big for the midfielder.
If Wenger is hoping to add a destroyer to his repertoire, Carvalho would fit the bill perfectly.
Maxime Gonalons – the 1980’s pornstar
Time is an issue.
Wenger cannot afford to pursue an unproven player who is still waiting for his first facial hairs to sprout. A veteran or a man in the autumn of his career may provide Wenger with the know-how the position commands.
If Wenger was looking to employ someone with a touch more experience, then the Frenchman should consider his national compatriot, Maxime Gonalons.
At the age of 28, the French midfielder is a seasoned veteran in the defensive midfield role. Having spent virtually his entire career at Lyon, the midfielder has over 240 competitive appearances for the club.
A steady 2.3 interceptions demonstrates his positional sense – but it’s his 4.4 tackles per game that tells the true story of his ability and style of play. The Lyon captain snaps into tackles at an extraordinary rate, setting the tempo for those around him.
His style of play is almost pornographic. And not that new type of pornography; we’re talking 1980s plumber round to fix your pipes sort of pornography. We’re talking handlebar moustache style of pornography. The type were your first instinct is to look away but the compulsion to watch is too much. He thunders into challenges and evokes winces from the crowd, as well as a few semis in those who are so inclined. He’s not pretty – but you’re not paying for prettiness.
Despite attempting so many tackles, the midfielder only commits 1.6 fouls per game. This isn’t Marouane Fellaini aggression – this is controlled aggression by a midfielder who knows his objectives.
Yet his game doesn’t solely revolve around his formidable crunching tackle; the Frenchman turns over possession quickly and has a pass completion rate better than Granit Xhaka (although he does attempt far less).
Wenger would also be attracted by Gonalons ability to play in centre midfield or further back in defence. Although he played the entirety of last season in centre midfield, Gonalons has previously filled in at centre back, when needed, to good effect.
Gonalons’ ability in the air would also be a desirable attribute to Wenger and the squad. As well as fixing the pipes around the Emirates, the man could change a lightbulb or two. The six foot one midfielder won 2.8 aerial duels per game last season. His organisation, leadership and ability in the air would certainly have come in handy against West Brom.
If Wenger is looking for someone who can play further forward and contribute to Arsenal’s attack Gonalons is not the man. But if Wenger is seeking someone to press, harry, tackle, intercept and win headers (and give those in the crowd a hard-on in the process) – he may struggle to find anyone more suitable than the French midfielder.
Idrissa Gueye – the Russian doll
A further alternative that Wenger may consider is the man who resembles N’Golo Kante in style more than most. Like a mini Kante (we’re getting into some sort of weird Russian dolls scenario here), Gueye has excelled in his second season in the Premier League.
The diminutive Senegal midfielder’s stats are actually better than player of the year N’Golo Kante’s. At 3.6 tackles per game, Kante has demonstrated his phenomenal ability to be in the right place at the right time – breaking up attacks and setting attacking play in motion.
Yet Idrissa Gueye smashed Kante’s record with 4.1 tackles per game. The Senegal midfielder obviously has more attacks to break up given that he plays in a team that do not retain possession as well as Chelsea. However, that should not detract from how vital he was to Everton’s season.
Similar is their ability to intercept passes. Both players have a knack for reading the situation and positioning themselves in strategic areas of the pitch. Kante recorded 2.4 interceptions whilst Idrissa Gueye narrowly bettered it with 2.5.
Anyone who has sat through a Chelsea game with me will know how much I idolise Kante. He has proven the Makelele theory to be true. After years of those suggesting that Claude was a one of a kind, an exception to the rule that midfielders should be able to change a lightbulb without the use of a stepladder and that Makele was simply an extraordinary footballer, Kante came along and flipped everyone the bird and proved that defensive midfielders come in all shapes and sizes – although he probably would have flipped the bird in the least aggressive, kindest way possible.
He is a wander in a museum on a Sunday afternoon, a brew after a cold, hard day at work, a 13.5 tog duvet on a cheerless winter night. He brings warmth and security to all; whilst someone like Wanyama is a shift at the local Weatherspoons. They are incomparable – despite both being tasked with the same job.
Wenger turned Arsenal’s season around by plagiarising Conte’s three at the back system last year. He Azpilicueta-ed Monreal into a make-shift centre back and used the teachings of Moses to convert Oxlade Chamberlain to a wing back. He didn’t even bother to change his answers a bit to make it look like he hadn’t copied.
It stands to reason then, should Wenger wish to emulate Chelsea’s success that he replicates the most important cog in the machine: Kante.
There doesn’t seem to be a player as comparable to Kante as Gueye. Their stats are almost identical with each player edging the other ever so slightly here and there.
My maths teacher used to say “It’s ok to cheat, as long as you don’t get caught.” (He was asked to leave the following year). But the point still stands. Wenger has been taking the Premier League test for years and has failed to pass since 2004. He’s already got the same answers for the first part of the test, why not copy the rest of Conte’s exam – he’s clearly been revising.
Having only spent one season at Everton and Aston Villa respectively, Idrissa Gueye looks to be on an upward trajectory. Everton would loathe to lose him – but ambition is often hard to stop.
If a deal could be done, Wenger may pass his exams with flying colours.