It seemed like one of those boring non-Arsenal transfer rumours yesterday when the German international Benedikt Howedes revealed that he had turned down a move to Arsenal in favour of extending his contract with Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Mesut Ozil recently told the world that Howedes would be perfect to play in the Premier League, but the 27 year-old has decided to see out his career in Germany. “Milan and Arsenal have really been keen on my services, this is what I am able to confirm,”
“Still I have not opted against them, I have decided in favour of Schalke. My job is not done here yet.
“And, especially after last season, I told myself I do not want to leave this way. I am a key player of this club.”
Howedes is a truly talented player and played every single minute of Germany’s World Cup winning campaign last year, so would definitely fulfil Wenger’s criteria of improving our team, and also can play in any position along the back line so we can understand Le Prof making enquiries about him.
But the point of this story is to say that if Howedes has confirmed that Arsenal want him this summer, then doesn’t that also confirm the fact that Wenger is in the market for a top-class centre-back. Considering that we already have Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel, Chambers and Mertesacker in the squad, does that mean that mean that one of those would have been sold to make room for Howedes, or is Wenger just trying to increase the depth of the squad?