Arsenal: Marouane Fellaini acceptable in only specific context

Arsenal are reportedly meeting with Marouane Fellaini regarding a possible deal as his contract at Manchester United has expired. Such a move is only acceptable in a very specific context.

While Arsenal are yet to officially announce a post-Arsene-Wenger signing, do not overlook the preliminary work that is being put in place at this current time. It is why transfer rumours tend to drip like a tap over a long period of time. Transfers take a long time to complete, and so the news also leaks out as the work progresses.

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And it seems as though Ivan Gazidis and company have highlighted another name to pursue in the coming weeks and even months this summer, Manchester United’s towering midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

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The reports, stemming from French publication Foot365 and French journalist Patrick Juillard, state that the Gunners are hoping to sign Fellaini, who is now 30 years of age, to a contract with his current deal at Old Trafford expiring in less than a month. While the club may never admit this, it is a largely economic decision: an experienced Premier League player for free. That is rare these days.

Many will be dismayed with the prospect of Fellaini coming to north London. He has grown into a scapegoat for United ever since he came with David Moyes and has become an emblem for that disastrous year post Sir Alex Ferguson. But that is perhaps a little unfair on the Belgian. He is by no means a world-beater, but he has been a reliable, unpredictable weapon for United, especially more recently under Jose Mourinho.

And he can be the same for Arsenal. He offers a size and stature that is rare for this team, he brings an experience and depth in an area that could lose one or two individuals this summer, and he is seemingly happy to settle for limited minutes without kicking up too much of a fuss.

However, that is the only context in which this can be considered a successful signing. Very much akin to the possible Stephan Lichtsteiner addition, Fellaini cannot be the marquee summer signing that is seen to further the development of this team and initiate the Unai Emery project. Quite simply, he isn’t good enough.

If, though, Fellaini is added to the squad as a cheap depth option, joined by two or three top-tier signings, then he could be an astute investment. Obviously, there is no transfer fee, his wages will hopefully be fairly reasonable, and his positional versatility and uniqueness in style could become invaluable over a long and arduous season.

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This move will be ridiculed. Fellaini always will be, unfortunately. He’s just that type of player with that type of image. But if it comes in the right context, this is not a bad move whatsoever. The problem is that I am not sure Arsenal have that context in mind.