Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners and Sami Khedira Are Perfect Match

The wish list for Arsenal is pretty long. Defensive depth is at the top. Convincing Arsene Wenger to properly utilize Mesut Ozil in the hole behind the striker is another. A new training philosophy to cut down on all of the injuries would be swell. 

But adding some muscle in the form of Sami Khedira should be on that list, too. 

And according to the Metro, the player is angling for a move to the Emirates in January, as the paper noted that he "has dropped his wage demands to just £80,000-a-week in a bid to seal his proposed transfer to Arsenal. Khedira’s agent has been in talks with Arsenal over a deal to join in the January transfer window, but the Gunners have been unable to finalise a fee with Madrid."

Arsenal have been linked to Khedira since the summer, so it's hardly surprising that his name would pop up in Gunners news now. Heck, he's seemingly been linked to many of the top teams in England as well, so an Arsenal link seems only natural.

But he truly would fit the Gunners quite nicely. Even his own injury history aligns perfectly with the injury bug that keeps biting Arsenal. 

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While many Gooners would love a rock in the midfield to sit in front of the back four and play the role of destroyer in the midfield, it's possible that Wenger simply doesn't envision that role in his preferred formation, instead desiring a pair of interchanging box-to-box midfielders who could each sit back if called upon but could also make driving runs forward. 

If so, Khedira would pair nicely with either Aaron Ramsey or Jack Wilshere, with Khedira assuming more of the defensive duties but being allowed the freedom to make his move forward when the opportunity presents itself. He'll offer more muscle in the midfield than Mikel Arteta but also more power and intent going forward.

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And he would fit right in with the German teammates that he won a World Cup with, including Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski. Of course, whereas Mertesacker has lacked motivation this season, Khedira would likely be thrilled if he could leave Real Madrid—where his role has been diminished—and join a club like Arsenal that truly needs him. 

"For me personally, it is difficult because that was really a long season last year, and to come back from the World Cup and get the motivation back, I am nearly there, but you can feel there is something missing," Mertesacker recently told BBC Sport.

One imagines that Khedira will have a little more impetus to perform upon reaching London. His motivation won't be a problem. Even after returning from a thigh injury suffered in August, he's yet to start a match for Real Madrid in either La Liga or Champions League play, though he's been subbed on three times in La Liga and once in UCL action. 

With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos higher in the pecking order at Madrid, he'll likely be thrilled just to have a regular place in a starting XI. 

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Of course, it's hard to say if such a move will actually happen. It's hard to know what exactly to believe when transfer talk starts heating up again, and it remains to be seen if Arsenal will make a serious push for the player. After all, defensive depth has to be the top priority.

But a Khedira move does make sense. He's quality, he's a proven winner, and he fills a major need. There's little to dislike about the move. If the Gunners are serious about winning a title this year, chasing Khedira would be a step in the right direction.