Southampton ITKs claim £25m fee has been agreed for Schneiderlin

Times reporting that we're not interested in paying £24m.

It's a fair point but I think Schneiderlin is better than Coquelin and is better starting attacks from deep.Coquelin would still end up playing 25+ games. The guy can play full-back pretty well too.

Coq is more mobile and therefore more suited to our game than Schneiderlin. Although after watching games at the emirates vs chelsea, monaco, swansea... etc I've realized that when teams park the bus against us, Le Coq becomes a passenger. It was as if we were playing with 10 men in most of those games -Swansea was the most glaring. But overall, I honestly can't see how he would displace coquelin (for 1 or 2 games maybe) although, my opinion is based on having watched Coquelin a fair bit over the years and very little on Schneiderlin apart from one or two Youtube compilations.

Well for the exact reasons you stated. We can build more effectively from the back with Schneiderlin, and tbh he's generally a better defensive midfielder.

Them two together in the big games would be excellent.

Do we buy him or MU. Two different stories in less then 24h.

We can build more effectively from the back with Schneiderlin, and tbh he's generally a better defensive midfielder.

I don't agree there. They are different types of midfielders. Coquelin is a classic ultra-defensive Makelele crabber. Schneiderlin is more Pirlo-esque, more a deep-lying playmaker with some defensive skills. But he's not a DM in the sense that he sits in front of the back four protecting them and covering lateral zones.

I don't understand some Arsenal fans. For 10 years, we have been moaning about not being ruthless and not getting the right players. Now Coq has emerged suddenly we don't need a CDM. Why can't we be like Chelsea, and be ruthless. Yes Coq was fantastic last year, but Schneiderlin is a better player, full stop. What is the problem with having both.

If we want to win the title, we have to be ruthless in the market and we have to built a top level SQUAD. Not just a starting 11. Chelsea's 2nd string team would beat most teams in the league.

Yes Coq was fantastic last year, but Schneiderlin is a better player, full stop.

They're not comparable though. Schneiderlin is not a DM, he's a deep-lying central midfielder with some defensive skills. He won't do what Coquelin does, which is to protect the back four at all cost. Thierry Henry calls him the police officer, because that is what he does - he guards the defensive line. Schneiderlin does not do this.

For once we have an actual defensive midfielder at Arsenal, who's role is solely defensive. This is a big part of the reason why our second-half run of the season was so solid and successful. With Schneiderlin, all we're doing is bringing yet another playmaking central midfielder into the squad. We have plenty of those.

Coquelin intercepts and clears way more than Schneiderlin, who prefers to play from deep and serve long balls. He tackles a lot, but only because he plays for Southampton and has to spend 60-65% of a game preventing the opposition from overpowering midfield.

What is the problem with having both.

The main worry I have is that Coquelin will end up on the bench. Other worries include going back to not having a proper DM, having yet another CM to keep Wilshere/Rosicky/Ramsey/etc out of the starting XI, and so on. I would rather us sign a proper defensive midfielder if we need one, and not another hybrid box-to-box player who won't protect the back four when needed.

If we want to win the title, we have to be ruthless in the market and we have to built a top level SQUAD. Not just a starting 11. Chelsea's 2nd string team would beat most teams in the league.

That's fine, but the answer isn't always to buy buy buy. Sometimes the solution is already at the club. Just needs to be given a chance.

I just don't want to see Flamini on the pitch at any point next season.

And if we don't sign a DM he is guaranteed to make an appearance. That should not be allowed for any team with title aspirations.

I just don't want to see Flamini on the pitch at any point next season.And if we don't sign a DM he is guaranteed to make an appearance. That should not be allowed for any team with title aspirations.

Have you already forgotten how instrumental Flamini was in bringing us the first trophy in nine years? Him and Özil were key to that trophy.

Have you already forgotten how instrumental Flamini was in bringing us the first trophy in nine years? Him and Özil were key to that trophy.

He was instrumental? He started twice in that FA Cup run ffs

Arteta started 5 times including the final.

He was instrumental? He started twice in that FA Cup run ffsArteta started 5 times including the final.

That season was not just about the FA Cup, it was about performances all around that ultimately fuelled the cup run. He was instrumental in that. Hasn't been great this season, but equally hasn't had a proper run either.

He was good for around 4 months in that season, that was initially because he ran around like a nutcase crunching people. Then everyone started to realise what an absolute liability he was seeing as he can't tackle, has no defensive awareness, is a shit passer of the ball, is slow and weak.

Coquelin could be the same, but at least he's quick, strong and can actually tackle. I think the summation of Flamini's second stint at Arsenal was the Anderlecht catastrophe when everything went to shit when the calm presence of Arteta had to go off injured and Flamini came on and was the exact opposite.

I'm more than happy with Coquelin being a first choice DM, but if we have to resort to playing either of the two aforementioned on a consistent basis then everything is going to go tits up when Coquelin gets an inevitable injury.