Arsenal: Fernando Gago Would Be a Better Signing Than Lucas Biglia

Recent news reports have linked 26-year-old Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia to Arsenal, with the Anderlecht captain claiming to have "held talks" with the north London club.

While the signing of Biglia, rated at £8 million, would likely mean the end of the Yann M'Vila rumors, Arsenal would do better to pursue one of Biglia's compatriots if they are indeed in the market for a defensive midfielder.

That's no condemnation of Biglia—to have been linked so frequently to Europe's top clubs is testament enough to his talent level, as is the fact that he has captained Anderlecht to consecutive league titles—but the fact that he seems to come out every transfer window and proclaim other clubs' interest in him is a bit annoying, if not misleading.

M'Vila is obviously fans' first choice should Wenger opt for a defensive midfielder, likely with the idea of moving Alex Song to a more offensively-inclined central midfield role Mikel Arteta occupied last season.

But should the Rennes midfielder's asking price grow too exorbitant for the Arsenal manager's palate, then perhaps a move for out-of-favor AS Roma midfielder Fernando Gago—himself an Argentine defensive midfielder—would be in the club's best interest.

Still only 26, Gago is rated at €7 million, or £5.6 million, according to football writer Rupert Fryer.

Roma, where Gago spent the 2011-12 season on loan from Real Madrid, are apparently unwilling to pay that fee to bring in the Argentine on a permanent basis, meaning that Gago will filter back to Madrid, where he has little to no chance of finding consistent playing time in Jose Mourinho's crowded midfield.

Therefore, it follows that he will likely move elsewhere.

Manchester City were interested in acquiring Gago last August and may yet spring for him again, Fryer noted.

Given Gago's talent—he's made 35 appearances for the Albiceleste to Biglia's six—a £5.6 million transfer tag looks a veritable bargain at this stage.

Gago has considerable experience playing at the highest levels of European football, having featured 92 times for Madrid over the course of four seasons. That production gives him a leg up over Biglia, who has yet to make a move to a major club.

With Gago caught between a rock (Roma) that doesn't want him and a hard place (Madrid) where he's fully expendable, he will come relatively cheap. And considering Madrid have dealt off the likes of Rafael van der Vaart (£8 million) and Wesley Sneijder (£13.2 million)—both of whom are world-class players—for what amounts to pennies on the dollar given their prodigious skill, Biglia should continue that precedent.

Sounds like the perfect storm for the ever-astute Wenger, who has shown he is willing to bring in players deemed surplus to requirements in the past (Yossi Benayoun was brought in on loan from Chelsea ahead of the 2011-12 campaign).

Gago is flush in the prime of his career and deserves to be playing consistent first-team football for a top club. Arsenal could be that safety net he requires at the moment.