Arsenal's Defensive Midfield Crisis - Why Center Backs Can't Play in Midfield

   
     Based on Arsenal's past voyages in the transfer market, you'd have to say that Arsene Wenger has really stepped out of his "comfort zone" this summer. We've already made one signing in Carl Jenkinson (not so illustrious, but it's a start) and we're heavily linked with other players such as Gervinho, Alvarez, Cahill, Heitinga, and Samba.
     When you look at those players, you've got two wingers* and three center backs. This is good, because we all know how much Arsenal needs a physical, no-nonsense center back for those Britannia matches. It's also nice to see some wingers being signed; Arshavin will probably leave next summer making way for Alvarez, and Gervinho could mean a move for Walcott. Could he finally be put up front as a central striker? We'll have to wait and see.
*I think they'll both be played as wingers.

We need two of him!

     So while we're doing well in the transfer market, at this point in time, I'm not completely convinced. Arsenal season after season has been hit with injuries. And quite frankly, we lack depth in certain positions to have a sense of security when a starter gets injured, or simply needs rest.
     I'm talking about the defensive midfield role. These were our options last season:

• Song
• Wilshere
• Denilson
• Diaby

     I have absolutely no complaints with Song. Last season was his best for the club, but he just can't play every game. Wilshere also had a fantastic season, obviously. I suspect that he will remain a defensive midfielder for the next season, with Cesc still at the club, stopping Wilshere from moving up into that position. But he too played more minutes than the majority of the squad. 

     You then have Denilson. He was shit last season, let's not be nice. But no need to address him; he's gone this summer. 

     And then Diaby. Ever since his horrid injury against Sunderland a couple seasons back, he hasn't been the same. Not only that, he struggles to find fitness because of his constant injuries, and for me, he is just too slow on the ball to make the cut in midfield. 

     So you can scratch Denilson off the list, and Diaby will miss the beginning of next season because of surgery so you're left with Song and Wilshere for our Champions League Qualifiers, Carling Cup, and the league itself. I don't say the FA Cup because Diaby should be fit by then.

     Hence, we MUST purchase a defensive midfielder this summer. MUST. I know many of you want to see one of our center backs step up to that role, but that's a bad idea.

     Simply because a center back can make tackles and is a strong physical prescence, does not mean they can play in midfield. With all due respect to center backs, your mind needs to be much quicker when playing in midfield.
     I myself am a "Cesc" type player, but can also play on the wing. When I play on the wing, it is much easier because you have a panoramic view of the game, like a center back. As a winger, if you receive the ball, you only have to worry about an opposing player pressuring you from one side, not all around like a center midfielder. It's a very similar case with a center back.

JET is known for his ability to play in numerous positions

     As a central midfielder, it's en entirely different story. Once you receive the ball, you have to worry about a player pressuring you from ALL angles. Therefore, you're not allowed much time on the ball at all. 

As a center midfielder, your touch must be top notch, your mind must be quick, and you have to have very good awareness. None of our center backs have "enough" of these qualities to make the cut in a midfield like Arsenal's.

     I've heard calls for Djourou to play in the defensive midfield position, as Djourou is our only center back to have played in midfield. Either way, I think that would be a nightmare. His feet are slow, he has little awareness even as a defender, and his mind is slow. It would be a disaster.
     Koscielny would be a better fit for the position, but it would be a rough change for him. Like I said, it's hard to deal with the pressure coming on to you from all angles versus just one (in most cases). You need to have eyes on the side of your head, and eyes on the back of your head. Perhaps if Koscielny could do this then he could play there...
     Even if Koscielny could play there, I'm confident he will have a brilliant season. Last season was his first in the Premier League, and despite his gaff in the Carling Cup Final, I thought he was one of our top performers all season.  

Thiago Silva - a brick wall

     Another example of why center backs shouldn't play in midfield is AC Milan's Thiago Silva. I regard him as one of the best center backs in the game perhaps right behind Vidic. He has fantastic awareness, his feet are fairly quick, and he's a very smart player. 

     There was a time in Milan's season when they were very short on midfielders. Therefore, Massimiliano Allegri put T. Silva in the defensive midfield role. While Silva didn't do terrible, it was clear that he wasn't used to that position. You could tell that Silva slowed the pace of the game down. 

     Basically what I am trying to say is, it is very, very hard for a center back to move into midfield, and I'd fear a move for any of our center backs to play there. Especially for a team like Arsenal, where the midfielders must be extremely intelligent and quick thinking. 

     So we now look at our options in this transfer window. A player that is attracting some attention and is willing to leave his club for Champions League Football is Fellaini. He was bought by David Moyes three years ago for 15 million, and I suspect Everton would want much more than that for the Afro-man.
Fellaini is a big, physical presence. He is a decent passer of the ball, and personally I wouldn't mind him being a bench player. A player to close out those one-nil games with Song. You may even remember the match against Everton at the Emirates (fantastic match full of perseverance) where in the first half, Fellaini absolutely dominated the game.
     Just two problems I see with him: the interest that City and Madrid (yes, Madrid!) have in him. They could offer him much more than us. And also, he isn't exactly the most technically gifted player. We need that in our midfield, to play with the likes of Cesc, Wilshere, and Ramsey.

Future team mates?  

     Other than Fellaini, I don't see many options. The player would have to be a smart technical player, and a good passer of the ball. Sandro is a good player, but he's from Spuds. Damnet.
     It's hard for me to pick out any likely options that would fit Wenger's price range, and also have the physical and technical qualities we need in a defensive midfielder. Either way, I'm sure Arsene is aware that we need a defensive midfielder, and has some player up his sleeve that we've never heard of from France that'll work wonders for us.

     If any of you lot have ideas for a defensive midfielder for us, leave a comment below. Keep your responses realistic! Cheers.