Moussa Sissoko Arsenal Transfer Blow, Gabriel Paulista Eyes Glory with Gunners

Arsenal have conducted some pretty astute business in the January transfer window so far, but as new signing Gabriel Paulista looks ahead to what he can achieve with the Emirates club, the Gunners have been handed an apparent blow in their quest to land Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United.

As reported by Ian Murtagh of the Daily Star, the French international midfielder looks increasingly likely to see out the season with the Magpies despite longstanding interest from Arsenal and French champions Paris Saint-Germain. Murtagh outlined the situation surrounding the player’s long-term future in his piece:

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Caretaker boss John Carver has little input in the club's transfer policy. But he has made it clear that hanging on to the midfield powerhouse is crucial if Newcastle are to achieve their goal of a top half finish this season.

But, with the Gunners and PSG both keen on Sissoko, Newcastle will have a fight on their hands in the summer to keep him, whoever is in charge. It is likely they would cash in on the player if a bid of around £20m was tabled.

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Sissoko would certainly bring an industry that has long been lacking in this Arsenal midfield. The Frenchman is renowned for his blistering surges from deep with the ball and for all the Gunners’ polished midfield men, a direct player in the mould of the Toon Army star would give Arsene Wenger’s team a completely different dimension in the middle of the park.

As noted here by WhoScored.com, Sissoko is a player who has an eye for a pass to complement his physical attributes too:

Arsenal have so many midfielders, though. If he was to move to Emirates, it’s difficult to see exactly how the Frenchman would fit into the team; he could potentially play as one of the two sitting midfield men, but to nullify his natural attacking instincts would be a real waste of the player’s potential influence in those dangerous areas.

There are clear voids in this Arsenal squad, and Sissoko is not a player who would immediately fill one of them should he move in January. But give credit to Wenger, who has drafted in Villarreal defender Paulista in an attempt to abate the perennial issues that have hampered this Arsenal team at the back:

The Brazilian is a player who clearly has eyes for major success at the Emirates too, per Paul Brown of the Daily Star:

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I know that we have great players of a high standard, players who are real stars, because if they were not stars they wouldn't be here.

Arsenal is a very big team and it must always be competing for the biggest titles in the world. Arsenal must fight for all the most important titles around.

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Here’s a look at why the Gunners splashed the cash to land the defender in January:

Paulista has the potential to be a wonderful acquisition for the Londoners. He may a little raw in his duties at the moment, but he has the fundamental defensive understanding required to be a real success in the Premier League. Physically, too, he has shown during his time in La Liga that he’s never one to shirk a challenge.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

In truth, Arsenal signing a player with these kinds of attributes is long overdue, as noted by former England international striker Gary Lineker:

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See that Arsenal have signed Gabriel Paulista. He's not a diminutive attacking midfielder...this is very strange!

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 28, 2015"

Paulista may not settle straight away in England, but Wenger will be hoping that he’ll develop in a manner comparable to Laurent Koscielny. If he does, Paulista and the Frenchman have all the makings of a dynamic defensive partnership that would offer some long-awaited underpinning to this Arsenal team.