Even though Arsenal led the league for longer for than any other team, they still ended up losing the title. That was not only because of the loss of Aaron Ramsey or the dip in form of Mesut Ozil and Giroud, but because of a familiar failing coming back to haunt them. Although the presence of Mathieu Flamini did help, at times, Arsenal’s midfield just looked a little fragile.
So, rumors that the Gunners are in for Southampton’s French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin would be just the thing Arsenal supporters want to hear. Although they are wafer thin on strikers and in full back, midfield is another area that must be addressed in the summer. For all of their quality in midfield, apart from Flamini, Arsenal don’t really have a defensive option in midfield.
Cazorla, Ozil, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky are all players who would rather go forward than go back. And although Mikel Arteta plays as a deep-lying midfielder role, he has on more than one occasion shown that he can be bullied off the ball. Moreover, with the Spaniard turning 32 in March, the need for replacing him is now more important than ever.
If you are looking at proven Premier League players in the mould of Arteta, who can replace the Spaniard while at the same time provide a little extra, then you need to look no further than Southampton’s 24-year-old Frenchman Morgan Schneiderlin. Ever since signing for the Saints in 2008, the former Strasbourg midfielder has been one of the key pillars in the south coast side’s ascent from League One to the Premier League in just a few years.
Combining great technical skill with a tough-tackling mentality, the Frenchman has been a vital cog in Saints’ machine over the past few years. Having come up to the Premier League in the 2012/13 season, few gave the Saints a chance. But the partnership of Schneiderlin along with another talented Englishman in Jack Cork helped the Saints finish 14th. In the last campaign as well, the Frenchman was one of the main reasons why the Saints finished in the top half and the fact that he just earned him a World Cup call up is a testament to that.
So, where does Schneiderlin fit into the Arsenal setup? Well, there are a few key things that the 24-year-old has going for him. Firstly, the fact that he is French bodes well for his chances. Over the years, Wenger’s inclination for French players has been there for all to see and Schneiderlin’s partnership with another Frenchman, Flamini could be just the spring board for Arsenal’s attacking midfielders to go and do what they do best.
Far too often Arsenal have lacked a little bit of steel in the center of midfield and the addition of Schneiderlin, who is renowned for his tackling, would address just that. One of the things that makes the Frenchman stand out from the rest is his innate ability to mop up in front of the back four and do the simple things perfectly. On several occasions last season, Arsenal were caught out with too many men pushed forward, but the addition of the Frenchman will ensure that doesn’t happen as his positional awareness is another asset of his.
Schneiderlin’s strength and his tenacious tackling mean that Arsenal will have, in their possession a midfielder who is equally adept at both winning the ball and moving it on quickly and accurately. Add to that, Schneiderlin’s crisp short passing and you will have a player that will fit in seamlessly with the way the Gunners play.
Should Arsene Wenger decide to loosen his purse strings, he could do a lot worse than sign this 24-year-old Frenchman, who, with every passing season is looking like the complete midfielder every side dreams of having. Although it won’t be easy to lure him away from St. Marys’, if Arsenal are serious about their title charge next season, then they could surely do with the services of this Frenchman with a big future ahead of him.