According to the latest reports, Arsenal are set to battle with few other clubs, over the signing of Monaco’s midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia. The Frenchman is attracting a lot of attention after showing good consistency in club level football. Kondogbia stormed into the limelight following his impressive performance against the Gunners in the Champions League Round of 16 tie, which Monaco won on away goals. Kondogbia scored in the away fixture at the Emirates and clearly making an impression on Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger.
What does Kondogbia have to offer?
Under Leonardo Jardim, the Monaco manager, Kondogbia has grown as a player. His commanding stature poses a threat to opposing strikers and midfielders alike. He possesses great dribbling skills and is good at running with the ball, drawing many fouls which gives Monaco the opportunity to take advantage of set pieces in crucial positions. His style of play is defined by his tendency to play short passes and draw opponents out of their positions. Kondogbia has an overall passing percentage of 85% this season. He is the go-to man for midfielders and defenders. The playmaker on this side of the half line, if you will.
How he will fit into Arsenal
Kondogbia is exactly the type of player Arsenal want in their squad. The North London club have struggled to find a good central defensive midfielder. Arteta looked promising before succumbing to injury. His successor, Francis Coquelin, is relatively inexperienced despite exhibiting the required attributes of a defensive midfielder.
The French midfield enforcer will sit right in front Koscielny and Mertesacker strengthening the middle while giving the wing backs – Debuchy, Bellerin and Monreal – to operate more freely. Arsenal’s midfield is now a complete package. The pace of Sanchez and Walcott supplements the creativity of Ozil and Cazorla. But what Arsenal lack is an effective channel between attack and defence. That is where Kondogbia will be so useful. His dribbling and physical dominance will help him hold the ball well and supply those world class midfielders who are capable of creating magic out of nothing. At 22 years of age, Kondogbia can grow into the role at Arsenal and become the next Patrick Viera.
Closing the deal
Monaco though, will not let Kondogbia leave easily. They would want to make more than what they paid for him. With the demand for the midfielder growing among top clubs, the asking price is only bound to shoot up. If clubs backed by rich owners such as Real Madrid are seriously interested, it will hard for Arsene Wenger to outbid Florentino Perez & Co. Kondogbia at any other big club will be lost in a crowd of superstars or pushed around the field into positions not suited to him. If he wants to grow into a world class defensive midfielder, Arsenal is the place for him and Arsene Wenger the manager.