Why Arsene Wenger Should Buy Miguel Veloso

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Because, we need a quality defensive midfielder.

And, we have some money.

And, it would be money well spent.

The 4-3-3 formation that Wenger deployed against Everton allowed Fabregas more freedom to attack, leaving most of the defensive duties to the two remaining midfielders.

I believe that this is where Fabregas is at his devastating best, controlling the tempo of the match, providing that killer pass and scoring the occasional goal.

But I have a feeling that this is only half the story. Our current injury list completes the other half:

Samir Nasri
Thomas Rosicky
Theo Walcott
---------------
Abou Diaby
Johan Djourou
Lukasz Fabianski

On regaining their fitness, the first three injured players listed above would surely be pressing for starting appearances.

Walcott could start for Bendtner, but my gut tells me that at the very least, one of Denilson or Song would be sacrificed for one of Nasri or Rosicky.

This would probably call for a slight shift in formation, with Wenger reverting back to a 4-4-2 or a variation of it, with Arshavin acting as the second striker, moving into the "hole" position, two of Nasri, Rosicky and Walcott on the flanks and Fabregas in the center with either Denilson, Song, or Diaby.

And what about when Eduardo regains full fitness? Someone else will probably be injured by then, but that would be going beyond the scope of this article.

Denilson is more of an attacking midfielder than a defensive one, and I am not totally convinced by Song or Diaby.

Which brings us to the natural, logical, practical conclusion—Mr. Wenger, please buy Veloso.

Why Veloso, and not any one else? Frankly, any solid defensive midfielder would do, but the real question is why not?

Veloso is young (23 yrs old), technically gifted (youtube link—check out the clips on the side as well) and foreign. 

And should Wenger decide to play 4-3-3 (or any other formation for that matter), Veloso would eliminate the need to have any more defensive midfielders, and assure that the back four are well protected.

I think that I read somewhere that Sporting would let him go for about 17 million (can't remember where, so forgive me if I'm way off), which might seem a bit expensive for Wenger's taste, but is worth every penny/cent/paisa in my opinion.

I cannot think of a better way to spend that money, except for this.

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