Assessing the Performance of Reported Arsenal Transfer Target Yann M'Vila

Arsenal fans had a great opportunity to scout reputed transfer target Yann M'Vila against top-quality opposition in France's UEFA Euro 2012 quarterfinal against holders Spain. The Rennes starlet has been strongly linked to the Gunners this summer, with the Daily Mail the latest to tout the move. It was interesting to see how he fared against the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.

M'Vila delivered an uneven performance as the whole France team confirmed this author's long-held suspicion that their vaunted reputation has been more about name value than actual ability. M'Vila sometimes struggled with the pace of the game, but also offered a glimpse of some of his finer qualities.

The most encouraging aspect of M'Vila's display was the high standard of his passing. The 21-year-old is noted for his cultured and accurate distribution and he was easily France's best passer.

His passes tend to be perfectly weighted and paced. His distribution on the long ball was precise and M'Vila showed the eye for a through ball on more than occasion.

Based on this showing, M'Vila is certainly a defensive midfielder more in the Xabi Alonso mould than Nigel de Jong. If signed, he would improve the overall quality and precision of Arsenal's passing and upgrade the technical side of their overall game.

In terms of positional discipline, M'Vila was very sound. He tended to remain deep and patrol the area just behind the halfway line and in front of the central defenders. There was no straying or the kind of reckless abandon that Alex Song is often guilty of.

However, when it comes to tracking runners, Arsenal should be concerned about M'Vila's awareness and reaction speed. Several times he was guilty of slowly trotting around or remaining static, while runners from the Spain midfield simply bypassed his position before he reacted.

This sluggishness was symptomatic of an issue which blighted M'Vila's whole performance. He lacks pace and urgency, particularly when having to track in space.

He often appeared pedestrian and that has to be a concern given the frenetic tempo of the English Premier League. Looking a step slow for Arsenal, he will be shown no mercy in the EPL, where midfielders and forwards regularly hurry and harass casual players into mistakes.

Alex Song has found this out to his cost. Losing possession in the defensive midfield area puts the back four under immediate and intense pressure. While struggling to keep up with attacking runs from midfield leaves Arsenal outnumbered and open to counterattacks.

When France beat England 2-1 at Wembley back in November 2010, M'Vila seemed a robust, active player. He has certainly refined his technique since then. Yet his lack of urgency in possession, and without it against Spain, has to be a worry for Arsenal, with the Daily Telegraph suggesting they would have to pay as much as £17.7 million to land him.