Arsenal: Jean Michael Seri spells trouble for one of everpresent duo

Arsenal are being heavily linked with a move for Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri. His potential signing spells trouble for one member of the everpresent duo at the heart of the midfield: Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

The last decade of Arsenal football club can be very easily symbolised by two midfielders. Blossoming youngsters, bursting with a bright and vibrant talent, scuppered by injury, undermined by inconsistency, ultimately falling short of their anticipated glory though playing with that youthful naivety that every now and then just clicks into gear and produces a moment of magic.

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I am, of course, writing about Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, two individuals whose careers have been intertwined ever since the Welshman made the journey from one capital to the other ten years ago.

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And now, a decade later, still trying to truly fulfil that inordinate talent that made the heart flutter all those years ago, the two face eerily comparable situations. Both have a soon-to-be-expiring contract. Both have uncertain futures at the club. Both have simultaneously proven their natural quality and starkly displayed their flaws that, for some, are fatal. And both could be about to meet some new competition at the heart of the Arsenal midfield.

Per a report from Sky Sports that surfaced on Tuesday afternoon, the Gunners, led by Head of Relations Raul Sanllehi — incidentally, and not coincidentally, Sanllehi was the Director of Football at Barcelona last summer when there were fiery links with Seri throughout the window –, have approached the agents of Jean Michael Seri regarding a possible £40 million transfer.

Many people, myself included, may have been calling for a bolstering to the midfield options. But this was predicated on such recruitment being a complement to what is already at the club, a player who brought a different skill set. Seri, while being an extremely talented player who I believe would be an astute addition, even for £40 million, is not that. He isn’t different to what Arsenal have. In fact, he’s ominously similar to both Wilshere and Ramsey: Energetic, dynamic, driving, intelligent and technically sound.

Reading between the tea leaves a little, the potential addition spells trouble for one of the everpresent, emblematic duo of the club over the past ten years. It had been reported that Wilshere had agreed to a new three-year deal. But nothing official has been released and the rumours have run dry a tad. Meanwhile, Ramsey is seemingly nowhere near signing a new contract, with his expiring next summer.

It is difficult to see how all three can be kept in the same squad. They are just too similar. Two of them, certainly. But three ploughs too great a proportion of the club’s resources into one type of player.

Next: Arsenal: 3 consequences from Jean Michael Seri reports

So if Seri does arrive in north London, which is looking highly plausible, then I have to question the future of Wilshere and Ramsey. I wonder how those contract talks are progressing because it wouldn’t surprise if Arsenal are demanding that it is one or the other