Arsenal: Steven N’Zonzi would be greatest show of “unfaithfulness”

Arsenal are supposed to be honing in on Steven N’Zonzi, but wouldn’t a move for him be the greatest show of unfaithfulness to someone else at the club?

Arsenal’s struggles this year are hard to put your finger on all at once, as they vary in shape and size. But one particular problem that is pretty plain to see is the rotating door in midfield that has had moments of pure brilliance offset by moments of complete ineptitude.

While Steven N’Zonzi is indeed a midfielder who would plausibly be a solution of sorts, it’s a bit much to throw all our eggs in his basket. And, from the perspective of Arsene Wenger, he is probably even less attractive of an option.

Wenger has gone on another tangent about the January transfer window, highlighting that he would rather keep faith in his current stock of players rather than invest in anyone else.

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Well, N’Zonzi would be the ultimate slap of unfaithfulness that Wenger could muster. So all those wanting him at the Emirates and believing that he may yet arrive should probably turn back now. You’ll find no encouragement here.

Here’s my logic – for starters, he’s a straight defensive midfielder. Wenger has never in his life expressed a desire for such, except when he bid for N’Golo Kante, which is still perhaps the biggest miss in recent history.

That isn’t the only problem though. Think back to our recent midfield acquisitions. In January two years ago we acquired Mohamed Elneny. Elneny was supposed to be what we want N’Zonzi to be. A squad player. The difference was that Elneny was young and had upside, which has since fallen a bit short.

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But Elneny wouldn’t be the only player getting his faith stepped on. Francis Coquelin would also lose out, another player that Wenger will always have faith in in small capacities.

I know what you’re thinking – who cares if their faith is incurred upon. I agree. I would trade both of them for N’Zonzi in a heartbeat because I have seen the limitations of our guys and, at the very least, N’Zonzi is a veteran.

I’m speaking from Wenger’s perspective.

Also, you have to recognize that N’Zonzi has no potential for dynamism. We are going to get a year or two out of him, assuming we acquire him, and that will be it. Done and dusted. He isn’t going to be a first team player because, frankly, he isn’t good enough to be.

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For the price that he is supposed to be garnering and the limited role he will then figure into, I don’t see how Wenger could justify the purchase.