Why Moussa Sissoko Addition Would Be Huge for Arsenal

This weekend, Arsenal will come up against a player desperate to wear their colours. For Moussa Sissoko, the match on Tyneside represents an audition to win his dream move to north London.

Sissoko has done little to hide his admiration for Arsene Wenger’s side. Speaking to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail in February of this year, he said: "Arsenal made me dream when I was a youngster. Patrick Vieira was my idol. I saw myself in him. For now, I'm a Newcastle [United] player and I am happy at the club. I want to play in major competitions and I want to do it with this team."

How typical of the modern footballer that Sissoko should provide a caveat to his statement of commitment by beginning with "for now." If Arsenal were to come calling this summer, he’d surely find it difficult to resist.

Based on his recent performances, that would be somewhat surprising. Sissoko’s form has tailed off in the second half of the season, but he is not alone in that at Newcastle. Since the departure of Alan Pardew, the team have looked happy to see out the season in the relative comfort of mid-table. They’re in a languorous liminal state, and Sissoko has been a victim of that limbo.

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However, there’s a terrific player in there. At the outset of Newcastle’s 2014/15 campaign, Sissoko looked like a one-man counter-attacking machine. He has the speed, power and dribbling ability to storm from one end of the pitch to the other in a matter of seconds. It is those attributes that have earned him flattering comparisons with Vieira.

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It’s worth pointing out that he doesn’t have anything like Vieira’s defensive nous. Sissoko is not someone who could challenge Francis Coquelin’s position at the base of the Arsenal midfield: He is at his best either as a central attacking midfielder or on the flanks. 

In that respect, he is similar to a midfielder already on Arsenal’s books: Abou Diaby. In recent years, Wenger has tried to use Diaby as a defensive midfielder, but the reality is that his best performances came when he was given license to roam forward.

Sadly, Diaby’s Arsenal career is approaching a close. His contract expires at the end of this season, and with his injury nightmare continuing, it’s impossible to conceive of him being granted a new deal.

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Part of the reason Wenger has kept faith with Diaby this long is that he recognises that his skill set is unique in the Arsenal squad. No one else has that ability to propel the team forward with just a couple of giant strides. The Gunners have plenty of central midfielders with the ability to keep possession effectively, but relatively few who are capable of making ground by beating several men in succession.

One such man is Jack Wilshere, but like Diaby he has been dogged by terrible injury problems. Sissoko, on the other hand, has featured in 27 of Newcastle’s 29 Premier League games this season.

Sissoko would immediately provide Arsenal with a reliable and versatile midfield option. In an area where the club seem cripplingly cursed with injuries, it could prove a very valuable addition.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.