Arsenal are looking at two France international midfielders to boost their ranks in the summer – Lyon star Maxime Gonalons and Toulouse’s Etienne Capoue.
Arsenal sent scouts to watch two defensive midfielders at the weekend, according to Mercato365 – Toulouse star Etienne Capoue, and Maxime Gonalons of Olympique Lyonnais.
The chase for the former has been covered in plenty of detail elsewhere, with Arsene Wenger making a late bid for Capoue on transfer deadline day at the end of January, and still interested in a summer purchase.
However, Lyon star Gonalons has been linked far less to Arsenal far less, but it is easy to see why Wenger has been linked with him.
Gonalons possesses tremendous physical presence in the middle of the park, with his 6’2″ frame enabling him to cover ground quickly, and telescopic limbs allowing impressive and clean tackling.
The 23 year-old’s technical attributes are also what have likely piqued Arsenal interest, with his metronomic rotation of possession a constant outlet for Lyon.
Indeed, he makes an average of 67.5 passes per game – the most of any player in Ligue 1, just ahead of Capoue.
If Arsenal are looking for a destroyer rather than a holding player though, Gonalons might be a better bet, for he tends to make twice as many tackles per game than Capoue.
Gonalons also has the experience of European football with Olympique Lyon in the UEFA Europa League, though Capoue is currently ahead of him in the international setup with France.
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