Why Arsenal should make an offer for this midfielder FC Sochaux can’t refuse

I know I made the case for Mikel Arteta earlier in the week and I stick by it. He would be a superb addition and most of you seemed agree.

However, we have money to burn and the set back to Wilshere, and the inconsistency of Ramsey suggests Arsene Wenger may look for more midfield recruits. Indeed he hinted as much in his press conference yesterday.

I fail to understand the links to M’Vila, as we have Song and Frimpong as defensive midfielders, but I am quite taken with the idea of Marvin Martin.

Martin is only 23, but does have 3 seasons of top flight football with FC Sochaux under his belt. But the last 12 months has seen a significant rise to prominence after a superb season, assisting his club to finish 5th in Ligue 1.

His form in 2010/11 saw him rewarded for his first international call up by Laurent Blanc in the close season. His debut came on June 6th when he arrived as a half time substitute against the Ukraine and has since entered French folklore as the ‘Marvin Martin Show’. In his creative midfield role, he scored twice and made one as ‘Les Bleus’ ran out 4-1 winners. I believe Zidane was the last Frenchman to score twice on his international debut for France.

He is a penetrative attacking midfielder with superb balance, two feet and excellent vision for an incisive pass. His style would certainly compliment our pace from the wingers running in behind. His amazing season last year saw him earn the nickname in France of ‘Little Xavi’, which should tell you how well his campaign went. Martin’s stats are very impressive, even if we accept the league is not as physical as the Premier League. In 37 matches he managed to score 3 goals, but provided a staggering 17 assists. This level of creativity is matched only by the likes of Xavi and Fabregas. On the negative size, he is only 5’7’’ and that would make for a small midfield due with Jack. It may also take him time to come to terms with playing in the top flight of English football. For the counter argument, one only needs to look at Barca.

A huge plus behind Wenger making this move, aside from his obvious pull for French players looking to improve, is that whilst Martin helped Sochaux to 5th in their league, this is the highest position they have attained in recent history. Despite 2 shock domestic cup wins this century, Sochaux have not threatened to reach the Champions League. At present they are in Europa League qualifying, looking likely to progress taking a no scoring draw into a home leg tomorrow. Therefore, he is not necessarily a player for whom Champions League is a must, although it would be a huge attraction. We all expect that we will progress tonight, but for Martin we would not be attempting to lure him away from guaranteed Champions League football, as we are with Hazard. Indeed for Martin, any European football would be a new experience.

His current Chairman Alexandre Lacombe has continually reiterated that Martin is not for sale, but the player himself, after such an amazing season last season, has publicly stated his desire to move to a bigger club only last week. Lacombe will hold out for a large fee, but it is rumoured in France that Lille, the current Champions from who we captured Gervinho from, are considering a €10 million offer. The player himself is wary of leaving France, but a move to Arsenal with some many compatriots in the ranks might tempt him, and we are in a position to make an offer Sochaux could not refuse.

Here is a video clip of some of his best action for Sochaux and France from his stellar 2010/11 season and before, and I for one would quite like to see Wenger make this move happen.

What say you Gunnersphere readers?

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