Arsenal: Marouane Fellaini absolutely, positively perfect

Arsenal have some very specific deficiencies, and someone as odd as Marouane Fellaini is just the right solution to one such deficiency.

Arsenal’s midfield is a point of contention, as there are a bunch of moving pieces and questions regarding who will even be there next year. As of right now, only Granit Xhaka is a guaranteed first team presence, with everyone else either nearing their contract end, or at it.

In steps the unmistakable Marouane Fellaini. Fellaini is a player who I have loved to hate for years, mostly because he is a disturber who plays for Manchester United, and he is always getting under opposing fans’ skin.

I don’t think that Fellaini is the solution to our midfield. Not by a long shot. Yes, he’s a presence on the pitch, mostly because of his size and his hair, but he isn’t, nor has he ever really been, the ball-winner that many crave in the middle of the pitch.

That isn’t why I believe Fellaini is ‘absolutely, positively perfect.’ I believe that he is absolutely, positively perfect because of the small niche that he solves with the Gunners. That niche being all-too obvious. He’s tall.

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When Arsenal offloaded Olivier Giroud, they lost a major aerial presence. When Per Mertesacker retired, they lost another. There are not a lot of tall guys with this club – in fact, there are next to none. And I don’t think I need to point out how fragile this team can be on set pieces, both attacking and defending.

Fellaini solves that, and he solves it for free. It’s such a small, niche problem that you’d hate to waste money on it if it can’t be solved organically, so getting it for free is like a bonus solution that you didn’t even know you’d be solving.

Plus, he is only 30, which would still give him some years to give to the cause. Not to mention the added benefit of stealing another Manchester United player and potentially turning him into something positive, which Jose Mourinho struggled with.

According to the reports, there are expected talks between Fellaini and Arsenal representatives regarding the big man’s future. His contract with United is up at the end of the month and no renewal is yet on the table from United.

Next: 3 Reasons To Sell Danny Welbeck

Go for it. There is nothing to lose. If he doesn’t do anything more than offer an aerial presence, then guess what? You have an added aerial presence.

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