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Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Julian Draxler Back on Radar
By Josh Sippie
My fascination with rumors knows no bounds, and one of the more off-and-on rumors surrounding Arsenal over the past year or so is that of Julian Draxler, the FC Schalke attacking midfielder.
According to Sunday People’s Neil Moxley, Arsenal has been represented at the young German’s recent matchups and this could mean a renewal of their interest in the exciting prospect.
It looks more like Wenger wanting a new toy to play with while ignoring his real life responsibilities.
When it comes to Arsenal transfer rumors, I always consult my handy “Wenger’s Three Keys to a Likely Transfer” manual (I made that up).
In all seriousness though, Wenger is all about being trendy, and the trend he sets with transfers usually circulates around three things: is he young (so he can be molded in Wenger’s image), is he cheap and is he out of favor (and therefore cheaper).
Notice how “what position does he play” wasn’t on that list? But I digress.
The German wonderkid can only check being young off of that list, because he will not be cheap and he is not out of favor. And his positioning makes it seem like an even less useful move (if preferred position does, in fact, matter).
Draxler (who sounds like a James Bond villain) slots out on the left, which would put him in cluttered company with the likes of Alexis, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the already-prolific Santi Cazorla and Wenger’s science fair project Mesut Ozil. All of those names are already competing to fill the wings and the No. 10 spot, and that’s not including Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere either, who figure to be more defensively-oriented.
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Wenger could pull a token move and turn Draxler into science fair project No. 2 by converting him into a defensive mid, but that would frustrate just about everyone, save Wenger.
Julian Draxler is undoubtedly a quality player, and quality is always welcome. It would provide options, and options are always welcome. Perhaps he can be groomed as a replacement for Cazorla (now 29 years old).
Those are all welcome ideas, but the fact of the matter is this is not a thirst that needs quenching just yet. It looks more like Wenger wanting a new toy to play with while ignoring his real life responsibilities (like finding some defensive cover, please).