Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Idrissa Gueye Could Reset Granit Xhaka

Arsenal should absolutely be in the market for a midfielder who can bring out the best in Granit Xhaka and Idrissa Gueye may be the perfect reset.

Arsenal’s midfield has been a work in progress this entire season. Arsene Wenger has been combining all manner of midfielders in an attempt to discover who works best. The results? Well, they are still inconclusive.

Switching to a 4-3-3 was definitely a step in the right direction, as it seems to emphasize Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey as they are all playing preferred positions.

However, two of the three names in that three should stand out as having something in common – they get hurt literally all the time. With the return of Jack Wilshere (hopefully), the inclusion of Jon Toral (hopefully) and the arrival of Isco (let me dream a little), that central three takes on more options.

But a holding two has it’s perks and with Mesut Ozil in the fray, a holding two is always going to be preferred. So finding someone that can bring out the best in Xhaka should be imperative, as the numerous options that the Gunners have aren’t proving to be all that reliable just yet.

Francis Coquelin may be the worst of the bunch, as he has been a frustrating midfield partner for just about everyone other than Santi Cazorla, and he is gone for the year.

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So the entry of Idrissa Gueye into the conversation is rather peculiar. He’s the same type of midfielder as Coquelin, although he is a more effective form of the same type. He is a more effective ball winner and less prone to immediate losses of possession.

On paper, the objective is to get Xhaka freedom. Freedom from having to make defensive plays, as his tackling is mediocre at best. Freedom from being that last line of hope in the midfield and freedom to actually push forward when the situation allows it.

Coquelin should hypothetically allow him to do that, but he hasn’t been. He has been haphazardly bombarding forward for whatever reason and leaving Xhaka to pick up the pieces when the ball gets turned over.

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There is a good chance that someone like Gueye could reset that entire set up. If he can actually do what N’Golo Kante would have done – as in, rampage about, win the ball back, and find Xhaka to push forward, then wa-la, we have a solution.

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