Arsenal vs. Marseille: Wenger Gets Up Close View of Potential Transfer Duo

For the second time in the last two weeks, Arsenal will take on Marseille in the Champions League, with the return visit scheduled for Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. A win for Arsenal will put one foot into the next round, and based on the previous encounter and present form, Arsene Wenger should be feeling good about his club’s chances. Despite the importance of the clash between the top two teams in Group F, there are some underlying currents to this game which may play themselves out as we get into January.

There has been no shortage of praise from Wenger regarding Marseille standouts Andre Ayew and Mathieu Valbuena. The summer was rife with speculation on one or the other joining the Gunners. Whether any formal talks ever materialized is any fan's guess, but it is easy to see why both players have caught Arsene’s eye, and may be targeted once again to shore up the squad come January.

Andre Ayew is a twenty two year old pistol with electric moves, a thundering shot, and an impressive pedigree. Ayew is the son of former Marseille star and three time African Footballer of the year Abedi Pele. Ayew has mostly lined up as a winger, but has played as a striker and in the center of the pitch. His ability to carry the ball past defenders with speed along with good range on his shot make him a versatile weapon in any style of play.

Ayew has tended to lose focus on occasion and disappear for stretches in a match. This is not uncommon for young players, but for a player of his ability this must be corrected for him to take the next step towards greatness. This loss of focus at times may be a result of the tremendous pressure of following in his father’s tremendous footsteps in Marseille. Being removed from the shadow may be a benefit to Andre in the further development of his undeniable skills.

Mathieu Valbuena is another exciting attacking player, but the comparisons with Ayew pretty much end there. The pint sized Valbuena does not come from a soccer lineage, and was released from Bordeaux before fighting his way back thru the amateur ranks. His hard work paid off as several teams inquired about his services. After rejecting advances from Auxerre and Saint Etienne so he could help his side in their promotion quest, he signed for Marseille in the summer of 2006.

Though known as an attacking player who can take on opponents and create for others, Valbuena impresses in his defensive responsibilities. Never one to shy away from a tackle, Mathieu has continued the never stop, hard-working style that earned him the opportunity at Marseille. He combines work rate and effort to optimize his abilities. All of this has paid off with a consistent place with the French National team over the last year.

Arsene Wenger will get another close up view of these two fine playmakers come Tuesday.  While they both are capable of succeeding in an Arsenal shirt, the question remains is there a place for them in what is a somewhat crowded attack. Both players are versatile enough to allow them to slot into multiple positions in the Arsenal attack. The choice may be difficult between the two because Ayew has more talent and upside, and Valbuena is more polished and consistent.  Signing either would seem to signal the imminent exit of possibly Arshavin or Rosicky this January or at season’s end. Whether Wenger makes a serious inquiry regarding either of the Marseille stars may well be determined by what happens on the pitch come Tuesday.