Emirates Stadium boss linked with moves for Ewood Park duo.
Arsene Wenger’s head talent spotter, Steve Rowley, ran the rule over summer targets Phil Jones and Steven N’Zonzi while scouting Sam Allardyce’s side ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Ewood Park on Monday.
Rowley travelled to Molinuex to witness Blackburn earn a 1-1 draw with Wolves and was left impressed by yet another mature central defensive display from 18-year-old Jones who has forced his way into Allardyce’s first-teams plans of late.
Like Jones, 21-year-old N’Zonzi, who has earned comparisons with Patrick Vieira, fits the bill of a typical Wenger signing.
But with the Arsenal manager eager also keen to recruit players with plenty of Premier League experience, that fact that defensive midfielder N’Zonzi has been a virtual ever present for Blackburn since moving from French side Amiens appeals to Wenger.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
Arsenal supporters would probably very keen to see Arsene Wenger bring in some new additions this summer but will they be enthusiastic about a move to bring this Blackburn pair to the Emirates Stadium? Whilst clearly both Steven N’Zonzi and Phil Jones are fine up and coming talents, one could argue that bringing in more youthful signings would fail to resolve some of the deeper inherent problems at the club.
Some feel that the North London club lacks something of a back bone and could do with a couple, or more, established experienced names to help balance out the young players who are coming through the Gunners ranks.
Wenger is reportedly looking to beef up his defence and whilst England Under 21 international Phil Jones has great potential he may not be a player who can make an instant impact and the danger with bringing in a constant stream of young signings is that your left with a club that is in a perpetual state of transition.
N’Zonzi is a battling defensive midfielder and whilst there is no doubt Arsenal could do with more bite in the midfield, is the young Frenchman the man for the job? Wenger has Alex Song and Denilson at present to fill the role and the 22 year old Blackburn Rovers man is arguably not better than either of the those options.
Arsenal do look likely to trim their squad ahead of new arrivals with the likes of Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and Emmanuel Eboue all linked with exits but Wenger will look to keep all his big name players, especially captain Cesc Fabregas who will inevitably be linked with a move to Barcelona this summer.