Arsenal: Julian Draxler one of only a few capable

Arsenal are again being linked with a move for Julian Draxler. Whether the reports are truthful or not, Draxler is one of only a few players capable of replacing Mesut Ozil.

It is looking increasingly likely that Mesut Ozil will leave Arsenal this summer. After months of contract delays, rumoured rejected offers, and a reported rift between club and player, there has been a surge of reports suggesting that Ozil will see out the remainder of his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2018, with Manchester United being the latest club to be named as potentially interested party.

And because of quickly-expiring contract, Arsene Wenger has no power in the situation. Not only can not influence, substantially and with any semblance of finality, at least, whether Ozil stays in North London, but he has no control over where Ozil may choose to go.

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For Arsenal, however, even with Ozil remaining in the Premier League and joining a direct rival, as Manchester United would unquestionably be, the task would remain the same. No matter when Ozil goes, the fact he is gone does not change, and a suitable replacement must be found in his leaving.

There have been many names linked with a move to the Emirates to fill the attacking void that Ozil — and Sanchez — would leave behind, from Thomas Lemar to Riyad Mahrez. But such are the unique and special qualities of the German, there are very few players that boast the ability to replicate the attacking creativity, ingenuity, and, ultimately, threat that he provides.

One such player, though, is Julian Draxler, who has seen his role at Paris Saint-Germain somewhat decimated after the French giants, backed by the Qatar government, signed both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in truly astounding and remarkable fashion.

Draxler is, per reports, unhappy with his now restricted game time, and has again been rumoured to be in the sights of Wenger, who has long admired his qualities. And those qualities are ones that could help ease the pain of Ozil leaving.

Draxler, like Ozil, is a wonderfully technically gifted player. He is a smooth, gliding dribbler, floating past defenders with great elegance and ease. He is an accurate and rangy passer of the ball, with neat interplay in small spaces, and the ability to spray a pass across the width of the pitch. He also has the striking skill to score goals — this was evidenced by a sweet volley at the weekend — and does possess enough pace to offer a goal threat from wide areas when darting into the channels in behind an opposing defence. Combined with his incisive and creative intelligence and reading of the game, Draxler is, suddenly, an accomplished and polished attacker with many skills that suit Arsenal’s style.

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There are few players that can replace Mesut Ozil. There are even fewer players who are capable of replacing Mesut Ozil and are available for Arsenal to sign. Julian Draxler may one of only a few who are both; he is an extremely interesting and attractive target to pursue indeed.

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