Would target N’Zonzi command a first-team role at Arsenal?

Arsenal have held ‘extensive talks‘ over a move to sign Steven N’Zonzi from Seville this summer supposedly, but would he improve our strongest XI?

The midfielder has come on leaps and bounds since leaving Stoke City two seasons ago, and is now being touted for a move to Manchester City or Juventus. The latter are believed to be set to complete a deal for Matuidi however, which will likely end their interest in the Seville star.

N’Zonzi has a £36.5 Million release clause in his contract, although with the player and his representatives made their intentions to leave the club clear, it is claimed that the Spanish side would be willing to accept part of that fee in future bonuses.

Arsenal have so far failed to bring in any midfielders, signing only left-back Sead Kolasinac and striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer, and could well believe that strengthening their midfield would be a positive move.

Santi Cazorla’s long-term injury has only moved to reduce our options coming into the new campaign, while Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere have fallen further out of Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans, which could leave room for a new recruit.

N’Zonzi may well prove to be a shrewd buy, although Wenger wouldn’t usually sanction a £36.5 Million fee for a player who turns 29 in only a few months.

The midfielder could well prove to be more than strong enough to allow us to switch back to a back four, freeing up more players to attack, but would be a great addition regardless of his the system in place.

Would N’Zonzi be first-choice midfielder in our side? Could him and Xhaka partner up?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal Man City N'Zonzi Seville

25 Comments

    1. ‘Extensive talks’ about a French player playing for a Spanish team supposedly wanted by an English team .. …. exclusively revealed by some unknown Italian journalist !

      Must be true then !

  1. I like the player , he will add steel to our midfield , he wont let other teams bully us so easily, he is someone that Arsenal can definitely benefit from.

    1. Do you mean like the kind of steel that Moussa Sissoko could have added to Arsenal’s midfield? Moussa Sissoko has been rotting on Tottenham’s bench.

    2. I think N’zonzi would be great for us although the problem is we already have too many players in that position or play a similar role. If we can sell Elneny and replace him with N’zonzi, then coupled with a good CM would become a good transfer window actually. Keep Conquelin because he is still useful for us and is homegrown. I think we need steel in midfield as much as creativity and N’zonzi would be a step into achieving both.

  2. He was bought for 7m two years ago and is 29 in a couple of months and you want to pay over 30m for him really ????

  3. Hi Pat, why do you say Coquelin has fallen further out of first team plans when he is coming back from an injury?

    I would like a CM but if we are going to be paying £30mil-£40mil then go for Carvalho, I rate him.

    If not then I will be hoping ElNeny improves a bit and Coquelin keeps up the high pressing and form a good partnership with Xhaka, he was good enough alongside Cazorla.

    1. I don’t rate Carvalho, he was poor at the Euros even with Portugal winning the competition. He is too slow and his ball control is not the greatest. He is also not so creative in the midfield, all he has is his physicality. There is a reason why not many clubs have signed him compared to Wanyama or Krychowiak who are also players that were linked to us at the same time with Carvalho, now look at where the other two are at now? Wanyama at Tottenham and Krychowiak at PSG. Carvalho is just not good enough and is another player that has been thown into the rumour mill too many times.

  4. He would be better than what we have, but we need to free up some room in the squad first. That means bye bye to Elneny, Wilshire, Carzola ( sorry to say that but now injury prone) that makes room in the middle of the park for what we have been missing for years and that’s someone who wins the ball. Simple fact is this, keep winning the midfield battle and you keep winning matches. We don’t need more forwards and stop blaming the defence. good teams just walk straight through our midfield.
    While I’m ranting, get rid of Ozil and Walcott neither have any balls. Also Alexis if you don’t want to play, go away simple. I want to see more academy players, the academy costs a fortune and we are not producing anyone. Needs a shake up.

    1. The problem with signing a pure defensive mid fielder is game time. Wenger’s preferred choice is to attack and so a partnership of Ramsey and Xhaka or Ramsey & Cazorla will be preferred. Will any top defensive midfielder come to sit on the bench? We have placed a big bet on Ramsey – I hope he realizes that and starts paying back the manager.

      1. Ramsey has done absolutely that in his last 2 games – FA Cup final and EPL first game (as a substitute). He usually delivers in big situations.

    2. I’m not sure Krychowiak would be a good addition to Arsenal – he is purely a destruction-minded footballer, not enough of a creator.

  5. Yes I think he could add allot to our team. Himself and Xhaka, Xhaka the quarterback and this lad the destroyer. He covers allot of ground and is a fearsome opponent. ..At the least ..he’d be an upgrade for CDM.

  6. Xhaka and nzonzi pairing would be terrible in midfield.Both lack pace and we will struggle in quick counter attack from opposition as well as we would keep moving the ball side ways without pace

  7. we need a flexible midfielder that can push attack and also be good defensively and not a player like nzonzi
    we need a player like ngolo kante

  8. Would be happy if Nzonzi joined. Yes he’s not the youngest but doesn’t rely on pace so age won’t be an issue. He is strong, tough tackling and will provide physicality and leadership that we lack. He is also a very good passer of the ball and is massively underrated technically alongside having premier league experience.

  9. Let’s get rid of Sanchez to bring in some one who will really understand what we need… We need to win Europa League coz it’s our first time to appear in that league

  10. Coquelin is still our best choice. Signing a DM from another league is high risk, even Chelsea, man utd buy from EPL clubs that’s proven.

    Thr season has started, we have no time for key DM signing who wants to walk in to line up. but a hot prospect is welcome.

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