Both £25M, but which one should Arsenal sign?

Arsenal will have to splash out near £25 million for either Geoffrey Kondogbia or Morgan Schneiderlin this summer.

The French midfielder duo have both been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks, with both their respective clubs – Monaco and Southampton – willing to sell their prized assets for £25 million.

So knowing both midfielders are priced roughly the same, which out of Kondogbia (£24.6m) and Schneiderlin (£24m) would you personally like to see join Arsenal this summer?

For me, both players have pros and cons, and it depends what you are looking for in a midfielder.

Kondogbia for instance is the younger of the two at 22, with Schneiderlin three years ahead of his French compatriot. The Monaco man is also considered more of a defensive midfielder than Schneiderlin. He is someone who will get stuck in, win possession back for his team and a powerful figure in the middle of the park. This is not to say Schneiderlin doesn’t do the same, but I think he doesn’t do it better than Kondogbia.

But Schneiderlin has more awareness when it comes to a pass and likes to get forward a lot more than Kondogbia, hence the former’s four goals the latter’s two. Schneiderlin also has essential Premier League experience, and this could be the deciding factor for several Arsenal fans reading this, as well as Arsene Wenger.

Having watched the two play on a number of occasions last season, I would prefer Kondogbia to join us rather than Schneiderlin. Why? Because I think he is the midfield enforcer we crave. He is also more youthful and reminds me of a young Patrick Vieira in the way he moves off and on the ball and operates in midfield.

Although Kondogbia doesn’t have Premier League, he has participated in the Champions League in the past, and I just think he would be a better fit for us, as well as settle into our side effectively and rapidly.

Arsene Wenger can develop Kondogbia’s ability further, and the young Frenchman has the potential to become not only an Arsenal great, but also one of the finest midfielders in Europe in years to come.