Arsenal: Jeff Reine-Adelaide Singing Eerily Familiar Tune

Arsenal should be pretty excited about the future of young Jeff Reine-Adelaide, but his recent statements should sound eerily familiar.

Browsing through headlines, I saw the title “Arsenal player tells Arsene Wenger where he wants to play,” with a picture of Aaron Ramsey as the thumbnail. Naturally, I thought it was just the Welshman, high on another match with Wales where he got to play centrally, trying yet again to be heard about his requirements as a player.

It would seem like a bit of an odd time for that, as he actually has been playing in the center three of a 4-3-3 recently, but still. No harm in a little preemptive reinforcement.

Then I clicked on the article and discovered that it wasn’t Ramsey that said this at all. Instead, it was the French youngster Jeff Reine-Adelaide. His full statement, as told to Arsenal Player:

“I prefer to play in the middle of the park, as I feel most comfortable there. I get more touches on the ball, which is good as I’m a playmaker and I like to create chances for the team. I can also play out wide, but my favourite position is in midfield.”

This is almost the exact same thing that we have heard from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey. Which should raise some flags, because both Ox and Ramsey are still being forced out wide and they’ve been here since they were Reine-Adelaide’s age.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

There is nothing wrong with moving an ineffective player out wide. I’ve suggested the same thing be done for Mesut Ozil. But when they aren’t given a proper chance, or they seem to be doing quite well in the role, I don’t understand such moves.

Reine-Adelaide has to be aware of how many “I prefer playing centrally” midfielders there are ahead of him. Jack Wilshere has to be included as well.

And yet the young Frenchman has been primarily used wide right in both the youth set up and in his sparse appearances for the senior team.

This is just another symptom of having such set-in-stone midfield roles like the 4-2-3-1 requires. There is no freedom for midfielders, no generalized role that any central midfielder could fill. It’s a No. 10, a defensive mid and a pivot. Or two holding mids. That offers very little room for leeway.

Next: 10 Reasons Wenger's One More Year Makes Sense

The 4-3-3, however, has given Ramsey and the Ox what they want – a central role with freedom. If the plan is to stick with the 4-3-3 than Reine-Adelaide has reason to be optimistic. But if Ozil stays and the 4-2-3-1 is the go-to, then the Frenchman will be unfulfilled for at least another year or two.

Home/Arsenal News