Arsene Wenger’s Patience May Pay Off With William Carvalho

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William Carvalho has been on Arsenal’s transfer radar since the transfer window opened, but the asking price of Sporting CP (a whopping 37 million pounds) was too much for Arsene Wenger’s (and plenty of other’s) pocketbook. As such, Wenger supposedly submitted a transfer offer 13 million pounds less than the asking price.

The need is there, the skill is there, the price is there

Deathly silence ensued for the better part of the window, with Wenger’s token and not-so-often lauded patience as unbreakable as always. But despite all the times we’ve seen Arsenal’s targets get swooped up by rivals, this time may be different.

Reports indicate that Sporting CP has officially lowered the price of Carvalho by – guess how much? 13 million pounds. For those who aren’t good at math, that means that Arsene Wenger’s initial bid is now the asking price. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wenger try to chip a few more million pounds off that price.

What would Carvalho bring to the Emirates?

The Portuguese midfielder would bring several things. He is a defensive midfielder, a position that is about as oft-cried for in North London as a striker. He’s a big, strong, midfielder that can set up shop in front of the back four and reinforce either end of the pitch.

He’s young, at 22, so he’d have plenty of time to grow and mold into Wenger’s style of play. And with Mikel Arteta supposedly leaving at the end of the year, he’d find first team work almost immediately, should he rise to the occasion. Seeing as how Arteta is out with injury already, Carvalho would be welcome at this very moment.

With Wilshere at 22 years old and Ramsey at 23, Carvalho would be able to squeeze into a midfield that is brimming with excitement and potential. That kind of atmosphere can be contagious.

So what’s left to wait for? The need is there, the skill is there, the price is there – it all comes down to Wenger. We know he has been in the market for a DM, as his pursuit of Sami Khedira was well-documented, so why not Carvalho?