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Arsenal Pulling Classic Misdirection With Marcus McGuane Signing
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal did not fill either one of their voids in the January window, so maybe it is poor timing to sign to youth products of the void positions to contracts at the moment.
‘Tis the season to be signing youth products to senior contracts. Arsenal have now inked left winder Aaron Eyoma, striker Yassin Fortune and midfielder Marcus McGuane to the senior side. McGuane is also being included on Arsenal’s Champions League B-list.
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Arsenal went into the January window indisputably needing a secondary striker and a defensive midfielder. Yet, after emerging with just Mohamed Elneny and hearing Wenger’s critique of Elneny’s play, it has become apparent that neither of those voids were filled and Arsenal will be walking a tightrope for the duration of the season.
The two are most likely unrelated, but it leaves a bit of a salty taste in the mouth seeing Arsenal ink three youngsters to the positions of most need at Arsenal. Mainly due to the fact that I’m sure there are plenty of Arsenal faithful out there trying to avoid getting there hopes up in thinking that these three are supposed to be the replacements.
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They are not.
When first I heard that McGuane had been inked to a senior deal, that was my first inclination. It felt like maybe Wenger knew something we didn’t and that this young man was the defensive midfield solution. He was, after all, included on the Champions League roster.
At the very least, we know that Wenger sees three more youth talents as ready to compete for the senior club. And as mentioned, they play some vital positions.
Eyoma is Alex Iwobi’s countryman, he’s the same age and he plays the same position in the same way. So it’s like having two Iwobi’s. Not the worst situation in the world.
Yassin Fortune is a striker, but in terms of viability, it seems like Donyell Malen has already surpassed him. After all, Malen is playing for the U21 side where as Fortune, who is one year his senior, was only on the U18s. I would not expect to see him anytime soon.
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Marcus McGuane was a lesser known commodity in Arsenal’s youth ranks but the Irishman has the versatility of Mohamed Elneny and beyond. He can play any midfield role and even push up to the wings. Although he is mostly known as a defensive midfielder, Wenger will probably try to steer him away from that position.
It will be exciting to see if these three can make any headway this season, but none of them look that close. Eyoma may be the closest but Iwobi beat him to the punch so barring injury, he probably won’t be seen anytime soon either.
The same holds with Fortune and McGuane. These might have just been contracts to hold onto them rather than statements of intent because neither was closing in on senior team relevance. McGuane has nabbed a goal in his shortened stint with the U21 side, but that won’t sway much favor.
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Good luck to these three in their Arsenal endeavors. They should know by now that they have big time openings at their respective positions if they can assert themselves.