Arsenal: Can We Stop Talking About Michael Carrick Now?

Arsenal have signed Granit Xhaka. Does that mean we can finally stop talking about the silly transfer link to Manchester United free man Michael Carrick?

I have nothing personally against Michael Carrick. The man has had a great career and it was fantastic to see him, at 34 years old, still holding down regular playing time at the team that he has spent the past decade with, Manchester United.

I’m sure that, wherever he ends up next, his veteran leadership will be a welcome addition and his continued high standard of football will persevere.

But not at Arsenal. Now that Arsenal has landed Granit Xhaka, it should put to bed any rumors tying any sort of central midfielder to the club. For awhile, at least. Carrick falls into that mold.

Arsenal is passed the ‘elderly, free signing’ stage. Which, honestly, I’m not sure if Arsenal ever had that phase to begin with. Sure, they’ve hung onto players a bit longer than they used to nowadays, as Rosicky and Arteta were allowed to play out their contract. Meanwhile, Cazorla, Koscielny and Mertesacker are all getting up there. Back in the old days Arsene Wenger would sell them as soon as there was any hint that they were past their prime.

But I digress.

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Supposedly Arsenal have been keen on Carrick for the past three or four years, but United actually showed a dose of loyalty that we haven’t seen since Fergie’s days and they maintained him. Now, his contract is up.

So naturally, Arsenal is linked. But again, that should be all over with the addition of Xhaka. Not only that, but rumors have indicated that United may be offering Carrick another deal, despite the arrival of everyone’s favorite villain, Jose Mourinho.

Whatever the case, Arsenal and Michael Carrick will never be united. Carrick doesn’t exactly fit what Arsenal is looking for anyway. He may be a holding midfielder, but he doesn’t score many goals or contribute to the attack much, nor does he produce an abundance of tackles and interceptions. He’s a controlling presence, kind of like Mohamed Elneny.

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So you see, even if Xhaka wasn’t at Arsenal, Carrick would still make little sense. Being free is cool and all, but at the end of the day, you have to pay for the quality you want to have, and Arsenal did that. No more central midfield talk (unless it’s Krychowiak). Let’s move on to the striker and defender rumors.

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