Arsenal and Jean Michael Seri: Distraction or development?

Jean Michael Seri is linked with a move to the Emirates. But is the Nice playmaker a distraction for this Arsenal midfield or a development?

Arsenal has apparently held talks with the representatives of Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri. He would be an amazing acquisition to any team in the Premier League. But is he a distraction from what is required or is he a development of what is already there, especially given who might not be there next season?

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The Ivorian midfielder from Nice in Ligue 1 has had an exceptional season. He has been a consistent performer who has garnered the attention of many top European sides.S

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He is a consistent player for Nice. He may not score many goals but his spacial awareness and tackling ability has been on show all season — he won 0.8 tackles per game in Ligue 1 last year. Seri would be a welcome change in the heart of the midfield. He may not be in the N’Golo Kante mold which many fans were hoping for as a deep-lying player — he is a creative midfielder more comparable to Aaron Ramsey or Santi Cazorla — but he is a quality dribbler and distributor and would certainly add an element of quality to the midfield. In fact, I would say that he is almost a complete player, except for the fact that he isn’t too good in the air.

Seri would add some much-needed pace and guile to Arsenal’s lackluster midfield, and with Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere yet to sign long-term deals at the Emirates, though the latter has been strongly linked to a new three-year deal, even if the scent has run dry a little in recent days, there is the possible need for a replacement to be found. Seri could be the perfect man for the job.

The problem, however, is his position. While many have been calling for a bolstering of the midfield options, it has been with the caveat that such additions are different to what is already in the squad, namely, an individual with a greater defensive acumen. Seri is a box-to-box, playmaking midfielder. He is not the enforcing, destructive anchor that is required.

Perhaps, then, he is just a replacement. Arsenal have been very poor with contract renewals in recent years and Wilshere and Ramsey are facing uncertain futures. Could Seri be a replacement for one of those? Or could Seri push an established player like Granit Xhaka down the pecking order or send Ainsley Maitland-Niles out on loan, adding experience and quality to the depth of the squad?

Signing a player of Jean Seri’s quality would signal a shift at the Emirates. Top quality players are now on their way and it would, of course, have a few established players looking nervously over their shoulders.

Next: Arsenal: 3 consequences from Jean Michael Seri reports

But is signing a replacement a distraction from the real need? Seri may be a talented and productive player who can help Arsenal football club, but is he what they need? That is a question that I am scared to answer.