Arsenal Transfer: 8 Ligue 1 Talents Arsene Wenger Should Buy

Arsène Wenger's knowledge of Ligue 1 is as deep as Manchester City's pockets. 

Ligue 1 has become a selling league because of the strict financial rules set in place by the DNCG. 

Regardless of results, if a French club is in violation of financial rules, relegation beckons. Just look at the case of Grenoble. 

Wenger has taken advantage of this situation by signing several Ligue 1 players at bargain-basement prices. 

Bacary Sagna, Emmanuel Petit, Gaël Clichy, Nicolas Anelka, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès cost a combined £19.75 million. 

Here are eight Ligue 1 talents Wenger should buy. 

8. Clément Grenier, Lyon, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 21

Sooner rather than later, Lyon have to decide between Clément Grenier or Yoann Gourcuff. 

Since they've invested heavily in Gourcuff, who has been ordinary (and that's putting it lightly), they're probably more likely to sell Grenier. 

Especially when Grenier hasn't been lighting it up. In fact, I watched him take six minutes to get sent off against Evian. 

So why sign him? 

He is a strong dribbler, he possesses good vision and completes 73 percent of long passes. 

He's been a bit-part player this season and aside from potential, there is no reason for Arsenal to take a risk on him. 

However you can trust Arsène Wenger to turn untapped potential into productive class for Arsenal. 

7. Mathieu Debuchy, Lille, Right-Back, Age: 26

Sick and tired of cringing through 90 minutes of Johan Djourou? 

Here'a a solution: sign Mathieu Debuchy. 

He's a reliable right-back who'll be an invaluable backup to Bacary Sagna. 

What about Carl Jenkinson?

He's not good enough to be an Arsenal player. He's to Arsenal to what Marco Motta was to Juventus. 

6. Jonathan Pitroipa, Rennes, Left Attacking Midfielder, Age: 25

On his day, Jonathan Pitroipa is a world beater—but he doesn't have many days like that. 

The recent Africa Cup of Nations was a snapshot of Pitroipa's career so far. A few highlight reel moments but not enough end product. 

Michael Cox noted this: 

"

The Rennes player has spent much of the tournament trying to dribble past players, with mixed success. In the two matches he’s played, against the Ivory Coast and Angola, he’s completed 10 of the attempted 19 take-ons, with the success rate dropping the closer he gets to goal. He’s clearly a talented player and specialises at running with the ball, but he might be better off having more faith in his teammates in the final third.

"

Pitroipa could be a lethal super sub for Arsenal—certainly an upgrade from Yossi Benayoun. 

5. Étienne Capoue, Toulouse, Defensive Midfielder, Age: 23

Outside of France and Ligue 1 aficionados, the large majority of people have no idea who Étienne Capoue is.

He does a superlative job in midfield like Gilberto Silva did for Arsenal. 

Who were the two centre midfielders during the reign of The Invincibles? 

Patrick Vieira and Silva. 

Just imagine how uncompromising Arsenal’s midfield would be with Capoue and Alex Song. 

What about Yann M'Vila? Patrick Vieira cost £3.5 million; Arsenal shouldn't pay anything above £10 million for M'Vila.

4. Henri Bedimo, Montpellier, Left-Back, Age: 27

Henri Bedimo has the left-back position in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year locked in. 

He was flawless (as usual) against Saint-Étienne and completely dominated Banel Nicolita. 

Bedimo can actually defend, whereas it's so obvious that Kieran Gibbs didn't play left-back during his youth days. 

3. Mathieu Valbuena, Marseille, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 27

Mathieu Valbuena can conjure up moments of magic as evident with his beautiful winner against Borussia Dortmund.

He can play anywhere in midfield, he is at his best when dribbling in tight spaces and he's always looking to play forward passes.

He's perfect for Arsenal because he's intelligent, experienced and fits their philosophy of how football should be played. 

2. Eden Hazard, Lille, Left Forward, Age: 21

Eden Hazard is a special player. 

He's the most talented player in Ligue 1 by some considerable distance. That being said, according to L'Équipe, Cédric Barbosa has played better than Hazard this season. 

Not sure how that works out because Hazard has scored and created a combined 24 goals compared to Barbosa's 14. 

Recently Hazard obliterated Valenciennes, who played five at the back. Hazard is fearless but unlike Jonathan Pitroipa, the Belgian is generally going to make the right decisions. 

The barrier to Hazard coming to Arsenal is his ginormous transfer fee. Big enough to ensure Arsenal will not sign him. 

1. Younès Belhanda, Montpellier, Attacking Midfielder, Age: 22

The reason why Younès Belhanda is No. 1 on my list is because I predict that he'll be signed by Arsenal. 

He may not be a household name like Eden Hazard, but Belhanda has shown that he can progress into a more productive player. 

Last season, he only scored three goals and provided five assists in 36 games. This season, he's already scored eight goals and provided five assists in 25 games. 

Arsène Wenger has been impressed with Belhanda: 

"

He plays without any complexities, his real talent is dribbling, passing and he has good technique which can influence any game. I will be curious to watch him in a big match with a lot of pressure, to see where he can express his talent. 

"

Talking about the big matches, Belhanda has come up short a few times. 

Red carded against Lyon because he kicked Miralem Pjanić. Belhanda was also annonymous against Toulouse as Étienne Capoue reigned supreme that night. 

That being said, Belhanda has been a factor in Montpellier's ascent to the top of the Ligue 1 table. 

Please read 11 Most Beautiful Goals Scored by English Footballers. 

Statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com.