It has been one of the most robustly discussed arguments amongst Arsenal fans in the second half of Arsene Wenger’s managerial tenure.
The reluctance to sign an out and out defensive-midfielder, someone who can position themselves in between the central-defenders and ensure their job is significantly easier by extinguishing any potential of an attacking foray being launched.
The position is often overlooked when pundits and writers heap praise on particular team enduring success, but to have that appropriate balance between defence and attack its absolutely paramount. With the amount of pint sized creative-midfielders Wenger has signed in recent seasons, the debate has always raged whether there is enough focus on combining that flair and craft with steel and grit.
Recently it has been Denilson, Alex Song and Mikel Arteta who have been entrusted with that responsibility and to put it lightly, they have all had their moments, but the trio lacks the defensive qualities and the positional discipline to hold down the role.
In doing so, Arsenal’s defence and goalkeeper have been exposed far too frequently, leaking far too many goals to muster a serious title assault.
Before that, the Gunner’s midfield consisted of players like Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Edu, Gilberto Silva and to a lesser extent Mathieu Flamini. All were blessed with athleticism, aggression and the knack of winning the ball back from the opposition and distributing it efficiently.
It was no coincidence that Wenger’s most fruitful seasons were embodied by the work of these priceless midfield personalities.
Arsenal’s current campaign has been one of two halves. Before Christmas the Gunners were bereft of confidence and again plagued by another horror run of injuries that saw their midfield numbers down to the bare bones.
With the squad injury ravaged, it forced Wenger’s hand, recalling 24-year-old Frenchman Francis Coquelin from his loan spell at Charlton, no one would have guessed what would unfold in the coming months.
Coquelin has become one of the first names on the team sheet, showcasing the tenacity, defensive steel and energy this current Arsenal midfield has been craving for quite sometime.
Discarded for so long, the journeyman finally found his niche under Wenger and has not looked back since.
Again it was no coincidence that with the addition of Coquelin, the teams performances and results have been as good as any team in Europe since the turn of the year, rising from 6th to 2nd in the space of two months, along with earning a second successive FA Cup final appearance.
His rise to prominence has been nothing short of stunning and will be hugely important to Arsenal’s chances of gunning for their first Premier League title since 2004 next season.
But he cannot do it alone.
With Arteta and Flamini’s days at the club seemingly numbered, its crucial Wenger bolsters the holding-midfield position, and it seems Morgan Schneiderlin is the man who fits the bill.
Schneiderlin remained at Southampton after his transfer request to Tottenham last summer was blocked, as the club took a stand after the mass exodus that had gone before him.
His at the perfect age of 25, where his best years are certainly in front of him and the French international has made no secret of his ambition to move onto to a bigger club after seven wonderful years with the Saints.
The signing of Schneiderlin would not only add undoubted quality to the squad, but it would provide fierce competition with Coquelin for that holding-midfield role which every great side should possess.
Schneiderlin has gradually improved as the years progressed and his statistics this campaign underline his quality, averaging 2.6 intercepts and 3.7 tackles per game with a passing accuracy of 89%. Schneiderlin embodies the type of player who is technically sound and comfortable on the ball, both attributes which Wenger likes.
These figures better those of Chelsea’s Nemanjia Matic, who is widely regarded as the top defensive-midfielder in the Premier League.
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The addition of the Frenchman would give Wenger more tactical flexibility, especially in the big games against fellow Premier league and European giants and already having Premier League experience will mean no adjustment period, making it an absolute no brainer.
Southampton will look to get the best possible price for one their highest assets, so a fee of £20-25m would probably suffice for both parties.
The strong French connection at the club will assist in his ability to integrate smoothly, having already formed friendships with fellow Gunners Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny while on national duty.
Many Arsenal supporters have identified Schneiderlin has their ideal summer signing and if it does come to fruition it would be one of the final pieces to Wenger’s potential title winning puzzle.
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