Many of us still believe we haven’t replaced Alex Song.
As a result, Arsene Wenger has had to play Mikel Arteta in the defensive midfield role this season, a role that, let’s face it, simply doesn’t suit the Spaniard. Arteta has done a decent job in the position for us, especially when you consider he isn’t a holding midfielder by a nature.
However, we need, I think, a player naturally suited to the position to come in and fill the hole left by Song last summer.
Well fans of Kevin Strootman, the PSV midfield enforcer, recently pleaded with admiring clubs to finally come up with a bid for him this summer:
‘Every transfer window there are clubs interested. But a club must speak to me first.’
Strootman is reportedly rated at £17 million and Gunners chief scout Steve Rowley is running the rule over the Holland international ahead of the summer transfer window.
So, is Strootman the man to come in and plug up the hole left by Song as well as stabilise our midfield?
The Dutchman is a powerful midfielder who is very good on the ball, has a great work-rate and doesn’t over complicate when in possession. He is also very versatile and possesses a great passing range and eye for goal as well.
This season so far, Strootman has made 35 appearances in all competitions for PSV, scoring eight goals along the way and is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most formidable midfielders.
He could certainly do a job for us at Arsenal and could well become our next midfielder enforcer for years to come. So, personally, I would like to see the club try and acquire him at the end of the season.
We have the cash to splash this summer so if Wenger is indeed looking at bringing in Strootman then there are no excuses in not doing so. Unless of course he is not on top of his midfield wish list.
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Someone is required for that role next year as arteta is being wasted in that role.Be it strootman or whoever the fact is our team lacks balance.I find myself wondering if Vermaelen could be converted into a holding midfielder as he has the footballing and tackling abilities for the role and he is not responsible enough to organise the back four