Arsenal: Shock Michael Carrick Move Makes Little To No Sense

Arsenal are reportedly interested in bringing Michael Carrick to the Emirates at the end of the season. The shock move makes little to no sense, however.

If Satruday’s 3-1 loss to Chelsea showed us anyhting, it was that Arsenal are still short in key areas. The disparaging displays of N’Golo Kante and Francis Coquelin suggested that an enforcer is needed in the transfer window. The full-backs, barring Hector Bellerin, need improving, and a striker could well be beneficial.

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However, despite all those positions being weaknesses in the squad that Arsene Wenger, assuming that he is still with the club beyond the expiration of his contract in the summer, should look to address in the summer, that does not mean that he should begin signing players with a scattergun, surely-one-of-these-must-hit approach, simply acquiring anyone who may or may not be an improvement on current options.

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Arsenal only need one or two players. Quantity is far from the issue. It is quality. As such, potential targets should be the cost-effective, good-but-not-great type that come in and establish themsleves as little more than another body in the rotation of good-but-not-great players that takes place over a season. Significant improvements are needed, true team-changing signings. The reaso

The reason why I open with this reasoning is because of one Michael Carrick. The Manchester midfielder has been seemingly unwanted by Jose Mourinho this season, despite anchoring their midfield expertly when relied upon. Consequently, with his contract expiring at the end of the year, rumours have now surfaced stating that Wenger may swoop for the now 35-year-old to bolster his own midfield options.

Now, firstly I must state that I do not expect any move to ever happen. It would be a major shock and highly uncharacteristic from a man who looks to youth and exuberrance in the transfer market, not age and experience. However, if Wenger is indeed targetting Carrick, it is a confusion stance for him to take.

I am a huge fan of Carrick’s criminally underrated abilities, his calmness in possession, his astute reading of the game and ability to break up play and then distribute with great accuracy and intention. Nonethless, as mentioned in this piece, Arsenal do not need good, even very good players, especially ones that are 35.

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Carrick is a very good player who deserves far more respect than he receives. He is not the man that Wenger should acquire to anchor his midfield in the coming years. Thanks, but no thanks.