The Lone One
The player who may be known more for his displays of aggression then his play of soccer, Nigel De Jong is the veteran presence Arsenal need ahead of the defense. De Jong has some flaws though, as he comes with some attitude based baggage that could force teams to reconsider asking for his services. De Jong is very good at what he does right, praised for his defensive positioning, aggression, and tackling, which all things that Arsenal are desperate for in the midfield.
Beginning his career as a forward player, De Jong possesses the ability to carry the attack, as he displays a very high passing accuracy for a now holding player. When De Jong last played in the EPL for Manchester City in 2012, his passing accuracy was especially exceptional, rating over 90 percent. Obviously, that is a statistic that will please Arsene Wenger.
De Jong will have to behave himself if he wants to play under Arsene Wenger, though. His most memorable moment is probably kicking Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the chest during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. That is an attribute that De Jong will need to cut out of his regiment. It is one thing to be aggressive in appropriate situations, and another to be aggressive in unnecessary situations, both of which De Jong is. If he can keep himself under control, he could be a dominant holding midfielder and become a security blanket for both the attacking midfielders ahead of him and the defensive players behind him.
One of De Jong’s most attractive qualities has to be his price, as he would not cost nearly as much as say the likes of Pogba or Vidal. The near 30 year old still has some tread on the tires, and it is rumored that Manchester United are keen to sign away the Dutchman’s services. The lure of an open starting spot at Arsenal could be enticing to the veteran though, as Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher would not be easy to beat out of a starting spot.
Which one of these players would best fit at Arsenal?
