Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Adrien Rabiot Would Reset Entire Schematic

Arsenal’s extended transfer saga most definitely include Adrien Rabiot, but his stock is consistently rising, as he would be a fresh start for entire midfield.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Arsenal going forward is what can they do about this midfield set up. It is becoming incredibly clear that Francis Coquelin is not the midfielder that we need. Santi Cazorla’s age and health is an escalating issue and reliance on him, as we saw this year, could be disastrous.

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Aaron Ramsey is so hit and miss until he’s had a good long run in the team that you have to wonder if he isn’t just ready to restart somewhere else.

Jack Wilshere is fun to think about, but not only has Wenger said he won’t play Wilshere in a deep role, but the Englishman himself has said his future in his doubt. Plus, speaking of health, Wilshere still hasn’t shown that he can sustain it.

Mohamed Elneny remains a strong rotational option but barring some breakthroughs, he isn’t bonafide starter worthy.

You could look to the young guys like Jon Toral, Jeff Reine-Adelaide or give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the spot, but everything carries with it a question mark or two.

If there is one thing Arsenal does not need at this juncture, it is more question marks.

Enter Adrien Rabiot. The 21 year old Frenchman would nip all our other “young options” in the bud in terms of age. He would also win out in terms of size, ceiling and consistency.

Picture a midfield with Xhaka and Rabiot. Two guys over six feet tall who are solid, strong, and deft passers. Rabiot has numbers to match that of Xhaka and he has always been a player who PSG wanted to build around.

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However, in the process of building around him, they urged a bit too much patience and rubbed Rabiot the wrong way. He may be featuring for them much more consistently now, but there has been some recurring episodes of bad blood between club and player.

Rabiot is also holding off signing a new contract with the club, so read into that what you will.

Nabbing Rabiot would hit a reset on all of our midfield problems. Go into next season with Xhaka and Rabiot in the base two positions, utilize their size, stability and consistency and let whoever else you hold onto duke it out.

Guys like Wilshere, Ox, Toral and Ramsey, if he stays, could use a little added incentive and I am always a fan of bringing in that high profile external signing to show the current crop that they need to step it up.

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Rabiot has been linked to North London for awhile, but the hold up has always been how much playing time he would actually get. I don’t see why he couldn’t expect to be an important first team player (to use FIFA terminology) right off the bat.

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