Arsenal have enquired with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain over the availability of French international midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Wenger’s side has been struck with a sudden influx of injuries as FOUR first team stars face lengthy spells on the sidelines through injury and suspension – in a season where it was claimed that there were too many midfielders at the Emirates.
We reported in depth the injuries to Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey yesterday while Mathieu Flamini was sent off in the game with Southampton, and Theo Walcott injured for the season.
Crisis
Ramsey had hoped to be back in the squad for the Southampton game and was set to make his 150th League appearance at St Mary’s.
However Wenger revealed that the thigh strain which has seen him miss a number of consecutive games had suffered a setback in training and the Welsh goal machine would be out for a further six weeks.
Jack Wilshere suffered an ankle injury in the 4-0 win over Coventry in the FA Cup and was replaced by Mikel Arteta for the draw down south.
Flamini also saw red with the score at 2-2, after a rash two footed lunge on Morgan Schneiderlin, which would usually warrant a 3 match ban. However the Frenchman has already been suspended once this season and so will serve an additional 1 game out.
With Theo Walcott missing the rest of the Premier League year and the World Cu with a knee ligament injury, and Abou Diaby nowhere near recovery, it would seem that Arsenal’s once abundant midfield now looks stretched.
French Connection
Matuidi has played 25 times so far this season in PSG colours, scoring twice and grabbing an assist as the moneybags side storm the French League.
He signed for Paris in 2011 for around €7.5million after making over 100 appearances for Saint-Etienne, and surpassed the 100-app-mark for his current side near the beginning of this season.
The 26-year old has been playing in the “2” of a 4-1-2-3 formation in France this year, covering the attacking flair of young sensation Marco Veratti and being covered himself by defensive midfielder Thiago Motta.
He represents a player that Arsenal could make a lot of use with, showing an ability to bomb forward in attack as well as fulfil his solid defensive duties in a team full of attacking flair.
The fee for Matuidi could make the deal all the more interesting, as he comes to the end of his contract in the summer, and so PSG will look to cash in on him rather than let him go on a free when the next window comes.
He is expected to be deemed surplus to requirements at the Parc des Princes too after the £23million transfer arrival of Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye.
Cabaye played much the same role as Matuidi while at Newcastle, operating as an attacker from deep.
And with Arsenal facing two of the trickiest months of the season ahead – with Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League ties – the need to bring in solid recruits is higher than ever.
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