Arsenal: Why Arsene Wenger may opt for Max Meyer over Doucoure

Arsenal are now in a good position to land several deep-lying midfielders, but speaking from history, Arsene Wenger would likely opt for Max Meyer.

More and more midfielders keep springing up in the Arsenal spectrum to fill that pesky position that Mohamed Elneny is currently deputizing. It’s clear that the Egyptian has his limitations and for as useful as he is, a more versatile option may be on the cards.

The main names that had been tossed around were Max Meyer and Fabinho, but Abdoulaye Doucoure has snuck in to assert himself as another potential option, and an attractive one, at that.

It’s a pretty exciting situation, thinking about the options that are there, but it also gives us months to speculate over who the best option may be. Although, in the case of Meyer, the added benefit is that he would be free.

That’s not why I think Arsene Wenger would opt for him over Doucoure or Fabinho though, although it surely doesn’t hurt. Not to mention Sven Mislintat’s added affinity for players in the Bundesliga.

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The reason why I think Wenger would opt for Meyer over Doucoure is the difference in styles. Key word on ‘style.’ Wenger loves his team to be slick and attractive, although that hasn’t always worked out. When it does, though, it is something special.

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With that in mind, Meyer is the far slicker player. Doucoure is a bit of a wild stallion with athleticism for days. Consider him the dual-wielding Viking berserker to Meyer’s cool and composed fencer. Both have their blades (ha) but it’s in the way that they handle them that makes them different.

Not just that, but Doucoure is a marauder. He rampages the pitch, attacking and defending, and asking him to do anything less than that is always a risk.

Meyer, in his one year as a defensive midfielder, has proven that despite his smaller stature, his ball-winning abilities are second to none. Literally. So if anyone wants to say that they want a defensive midfielder, but fear that Meyer may not be the midfielder they are looking for, do yourself a favor and watch the tenacity of this young man when he plays.

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He is just 22-years-old and, to Wenger’s sure joy, still boasts the creativity of an attacking midfielder if he should wish to re-purpose him away from defensive midfield, should something magical happen and another midfielder become apparent.

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