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Have Arsenal made a mistake in not signing him?

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Morgan SchneiderlinRay Parlour believes Arsenal have made a mistake in not signing Morgan Schneiderlin.

Despite reported interest from the Gunners, the 25-year-old decided to swap Southampton for Manchester United in the end, with the Red Devils acquiring him for £24 million.

And Parlour, who spent 13 years at Arsenal, reckons Arsene Wenger has missed a trick in not signing the France international, citing the club’s desperate need for a defensive midfielder to come in this summer.

Quoted in the Daily Express earlier today, the former Gunner said on the matter:

‘Arsenal need a central midfielder who’s going to be sitting in front of the back four.

‘Schneiderlin would have been good, very good. Are there players in that sort of mould out there that Arsene Wenger can bring in to do that job?

‘Or will he look at Santi Cazorla like he did at Manchester City away last season. Can Jack Wilshere do that job?

‘They’re very hard to find, these top quality players – like Patrick Vieira when I played. 

‘That’s why the scouting system has to be very good and quick in getting into the reckoning and saying they’re the player we need.’

But is Parlour right? Have Arsenal missed a trick in Schneiderlin?

Personally, I believe there are better options out there, but that’s not to say that Schneiderlin wouldn’t have done a job for us. He is a ready-made Premier League player, so he knows the English game well – and £24 million, in hindsight, isn’t such a bad fee to fork out on a player of his ability.

It is a shame we didn’t fight harder for his signature, but we move on, and hopefully – if Wenger is going to bring a new midfielder this summer – the Frenchman brings in someone on the same level as Schneiderlin, or even better

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7 comments

  • Paul skinner says:

    Its because he didn’t want to go there that’s why.

  • posu Joseph says:

    Coquelin and Jack can do the job even better

  • JGD says:

    Well, no doubt Schneiderlin is a great player, but I’m not sure we need him or indeed any other DM. Coqulein was excellent last season, and as a ball winner and shield was amongst the best in the PL. Is his all round game as good as Schneiderlin or Matic? No, for sure. But in terms of a strictly defensive presence he was outstanding, and equally as good if not better. After that level of performance it woudl be harsh in the extreme to simply bring in a new player who may not actually be as good defensively anyway.

    Not sure a Viera is the right requirement. Now a Gilberto is exactly what we need, and Coqulein can be that invisible wall. All he needs to do is maintain his performance level from last season.

    The question is over cover. Arsene obviously feels that Arteta’s legs are still good enough to play a limited amount of games, so that may be sufficient. He could even suprise us with someone like Chambers taking some games there.

    Some of the suggestions flying round are ridiculous – Vidal? We need another b2b player to charge forward, and one who’s 28 who’s not the player he was 2 years ago? Pogba – again, more attack orientated and stupid money. Carvalho – nowhere near the complete article, 23 years old, inconsistent in form, and not played outside the Primeira liga and the occasional international (but he did apparently “dominate” the 21 year old Can in a one off game, so apparently he’s “world class”), and stupidly priced.

  • Moustakim Amara-Sannoh says:

    I don’t think Jack can do the job,cause he is not a natural defensive midfilder

  • JGD says:

    Well, no doubt Schneiderlin is a great player, but I’m not sure we need him or indeed any other DM. Coqulein was excellent last season, and as a ball winner and shield was amongst the best in the PL. Is his all round game as good as Schneiderlin or Matic? No, for sure. But in terms of a strictly defensive presence he was outstanding, and equally as good if not better.

    Not sure a Viera is the right requirement. Now a Gilberto is exactly what we need, and Coqulein can be that invisible wall. All he needs to do is maintain his performance level from last season.

    Cover?Well thats worth considering. Arsene obviously thinks Arteta has the legs still to fulfill the role, and we may even get surprises like Chambers making an appearance (given he’s not a good option at RB), but has vision, and is good in the tackle.

  • Alias Babu says:

    It would be a mistake as long as Coqulein stays fit for the major part of the season.
    Schneiderlin is without any doubt an exceptional player. But, we have enough cover up in the form of Coqulein

    Alias Babu,
    True Gooner from India

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