Arsenal Transfers: Henrikh Mkhitaryan A Very Real Solution
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal have several needs they must address, and another attacking midfielder may not be a priority. But Henrikh Mkhitaryan just might be a solution.
What do Arsenal need? They need defense. They need a striker. They need a tough holding midfielder. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is none of those things. He is the last thing Arsenal needs – an attacking midfielder. But just because he plays a position that Arsenal doesn’t need, doesn’t mean that they don’t need him. It makes sense, trust me.
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I was always quick to dismiss any link to Borussia Dortmund because I saw the players as too loyal. But perhaps that loyalty was just skin deep, as now Mats Hummels is taking the walk of shame to Bayern Munich after verbally declaring he would never do such things.
So who’s to say that Mkhitaryan isn’t available?
Anyways, about the positioning thing. The Armenian midfielder isn’t just an attacking midfielder. He is the ultimate utility man that accounts for 36 goals for Borussia Dortmund in all competitions. Thirty six.
Arsenal can go on goal droughts sometimes. It’s a rather unfortunate process. Ozil creates chances for no one in particular and no one in particular can finish. Sometimes, when Alexis, Ozil, Giroud, Ramsey and the enigmatic lot click, Arsenal are on top of the world. But that doesn’t always happen.
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Mkhitaryan would shake things up. This man is a one-man wrecking ball when it comes to offensive prowess. He doesn’t just create chances, like Ozil. He doesn’t just put away chances, like Alexis. He doesn’t go on cold streaks like Giroud. The longest he’s gone without scoring a goal this year is five matches. And then he came back with a vengeance.
Mkhitaryan is a difference maker. He is an immediate change that will have an immediate impact. Alex Iwobi is looking great and all, but what if this attack had a midfield three of Alexis, Ozil and Mkhitaryan? Can we all just take a moment to think about that. Ignore who’s the striker in this fantasy, that’s not important. All three of them can score. All three of them can create. All three of them are brilliant. You could even make that argument that having a striker with that set up wouldn’t matter as much because these three could do it all. But I won’t make that argument.
Next: Transfer Debate: Xhaka or Kante?
It wouldn’t be un-Wenger like to buy a player at a position that we don’t necessarily need. However, best not to get our hopes up with this one either.