Arsenal Transfers: Picking One Player From Each Ligue 1 Side

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Troyes: Thomas Ayasse

Troyes is not in good form this year. But to be in Ligue 1, there has to be some quality, and Troyes has some quality in their defensive midfielder Thomas Ayasse. While he is already 28 years old and mired at the bottom of Ligue 1, Ayasse has some definable qualities that would make him a boon to Arsenal’s ever-thin midfield.

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For starters, the guy is big. At 183 cm tall, he stands as big as Lars Bender. He uses that size well. Ayasse averages over three tackles per game and it is tackling and physicality that Arsenal needs more than anything.

The only major problem with Ayasse is his discipline. He is a bit of a Francis Coquelin that never learned. Ayasse has amassed three yellows and a red in 965 minutes of play. Not the worst return ever, but it would still be something to monitor. It’s also a good thing though. Arsenal really needs a bruiser type right now.

I almost selected Jessy Pi for Troyes but he does not tackle, he intercepts. With such a lack of physicality, Arsenal need that tackling menace in the middle of the pitch.

Next up, what can Toulouse provide for Arsenal’s arsenal?

Next: Toulouse