Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Should Avoid Xherdan Shaqiri Pursuit

Arsene Wenger is a man who has come for some staunch criticism regarding Arsenal’s transfer policies in recent years. The big-money signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, in the past two summer windows, have been perceived as merely strengthening a strong facet of his team, leaving other areas unaddressed, most notably the defensive portions of this unbalanced squad.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

So it’s peculiar to see the Emirates outfit have been linked with a January move for Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri. That’s according to Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star, who claims that the Gunners are set to go head-to-head with Liverpool and Tottenham for the 22-year-old’s signature in January.

In the summer, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted they’d received some interest from the Premier League but that the German giants had no interest in moving him on, per Thomas Zocher of Sky Sports:

"

We’ve had several enquiries from teams in England and Italy.

I’ve never had a conversation because we are convinced he will have a good career with us. He must stay healthy, (but) the coach is convinced by him.

"

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Although the Switzerland international is a fine player, signing him up would be  gluttonous indulgence on the part of the north London club. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

The notion that the young Bayern midfielder is on the lookout for a club in the mid-season window is a wholly understandable one.

At the time of writing, the player has started just three Bundesliga games for the German champions this season, per WhoScored.com. With these years critical to the development of any player, Shaqiri will be well aware that regular football is vital.

Nonetheless, German football expert Cristian Nyari thinks that being in the company of the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery will only be a good thing for his development:

But there’s nothing quite like match action to allow a player to flourish, and if Shaqiri was to move away from the Allianz Arena, there would be a host of teams ready to take him off Bayern’s hands. 

Capable of operating on either flank or behind the striker, Shaqiri has scintillating pace, tricks aplenty and a hammer of a left foot. And although he’s featured scarcely for Bayern, he’s a player who’s always showcased a level of on-pitch intelligence, something that sets him apart from the stereotypical, mid-range wide man. 

Here are the kind of attributes Shaqiri could potentially bring to the Emirates should a January deal be struck:

To hone and refine these skills, he needs minutes on the pitch, back-to-back games and to test himself in new roles and environments. He would probably get those requisite opportunities at Tottenham and Liverpool, given their respective needs for a direct, incisive attacking threat. But Arsenal? Not so much.

When Ozil rocked up at the Emirates, Wenger’s attacking midfield options were positively bursting, and with Sanchez in situ too—although he’s been undeniably mesmerising in his short Arsenal career to date—there are simply too many players on the books to fill the triumvirate of slots behind the striker in the Frenchman’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

That’d leave Shaqiri battling with not only the aforementioned pair but Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky and Joel Campbell to name but a few. And that’s assuming the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere—two players who enjoy being deployed in an advanced role—slot into one of the deeper midfield berths.

Where Shaqiri ranks among those options is another debate entirely, but is he a player quite of the calibre of Sanchez, meaning he's too good an opportunity to pass up? Is he someone who’ll come in and push the Gunners towards Champions League, Premier League or FA Cup glory? Is he a necessity purchase at the expense of a holding midfielder, a central defender or even a new goalkeeper? 

Julian Finney/Getty Images

The answer at this stage of his career is “not yet.” The ability and temperament are there, but his development will never be expedited unless he’s playing regular games. German football expert Raphael Honigstein touched on some improvements the player must make earlier in the season:

A balanced squad is vital for any side that wishes to sample any kind of success, and looking at Arsenal’s current options, a move for Shaqiri would further tip what are already hopelessly lopsided scales.

Wenger has admitted he’s looking to sign a defender in the January window, per David Hynter of The Guardian. If any enquiry has been made for the Swiss speedster, it’s unlikely to have been one of any considerable clout.

Arsenal need balance, Shaqiri needs games; this transfer would do little to sate the requirements of either party.