Arsenal fans wanting to see a new defensive midfield player arrive at the Emirates Stadium during this transfer window will be disappointed by the latest words from Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak.The tough-as-nails Poland international intends to stay with La Liga side Sevilla. He took to his personal Twitter account to make his feelings clear (h/t SkySports.com): "I'm staying at the Sanchez Pizjuan for the upcoming season."There had been strong speculation Arsenal would activate Krychowiak's 21.2 million release clause, according to Simon Rice of the Independent.Keychowiak's statement won't be welcomed by the legions of fans, pundits and scribes who believe the Gunners won't mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title without a more physical presence in the middle.Former Manchester United defender turned Sky Sports' analyst Gary Neville recently became the voice of this movement. Speaking on Sky's Monday Night Football, prior to Arsenal's 0-0 home draw with Liverpool, Neville chided Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for consistently shunning more destructive types in midfield.A video from the Sky Sports' official YouTube channel shows Neville's comments in full:Neville's view certainly has a lot of merit, even if the "arrogant" and naive "jibes" pushed it into the realm of over the top. Wenger clearly has faith in the partnership Neville aimed most of his ire and analysis toward, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.The latter is a matchbox-sized maestro who makes football worth watching. Cazorla is certainly defined by his technical quality rather than any robust traits.But the mini marvel has become a hugely influential figure in the way this Arsenal team plays. His varied and accurate passing radar not only links midfield to attack, but also it can quickly transition defending to striking on the break.Following Neville's critique, Cazorla has emphasised how much he's enjoying the move to a deeper role in the middle, per the London Evening Standard's James Benge:The more I touch the ball, the more confident I get and thats why I need to have contact with the ball. If I dont touch it for a period of time I feel uneasy. Thanks to playing in this new position, Im touching the ball a lot and that makes me happy. Im loving my new position on the pitch.Yet those who believe Arsenal need a stronger base would prefer a player as combative as Krychowiak. He never tires breaking up play, and his energy levels make him a real terrier in the middle.Of course, those are exactly the things Coquelin offers this Arsenal team. Wenger has faith in the Frenchman, not unreasonable considering the 24-year-old has rarely let the Gunners down since returning from a loan spell with Charlton Athletic midway through last season.Coquelin's development is why Wenger isn't entering the market for a destroyer. The idea of a manager as loyal to the ideal of expansive, attacking football as Wenger playing two destructive midfielders is naive.The critics will still argue this Arsenal squad at least needs some competition for Coquelin. Perhaps, but a player like Krychowiak, a key figure in Sevilla's victoriousUEFA Europa League campaign last season, isn't going anywhere just to be mere competition.Wenger Has Explored Andriy Yarmolenko DealWenger may not want another defensive midfielder, but Spanish newspaper Sport (h/t Daily Star's Alex Harris), believes the Gunners boss is keen to sign another forward.Apparently, Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko is his prime target. But the player is insistent on moving to Barcelona:"I appreciate the interest, but my dream is to play for Barcelona."At this point, the link looks tenuous. Yet a Hungarian agent, Sandor Varga told Russian publication Gazeta, he has spoken to Wenger about Yarmolenko (h/t Sport Witness' Tom Coast): "However, he does say he spoke to the French manager about Andriy Yarmolenko, which would fit in with Sports claims that Wenger rang the player last week."It's not exactly clear what Varga's connection is to Arsenal's transfer business on any continent. But his words do lend some credence to these reports.More pertinent is the fact the Gunners need some more direct pace and natural guile along the forward line. While others lament the midfield, it's worth noting scoring has been Arsenal's problem this season, not dictating play.The Gunners have drawn a blank in two Premier League home games. Something is clearly missing in attack.Whether that's a prolific player who can operate wide like Yarmolenko remains to be seen. Currently, Arsenal aren't short of wide players. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are the primary options.But Walcott and Chamberlain aren't the most consistent or durable. Another wide forward with pace to burn and plenty of tricky movement would certainly add another dimension to Arsenal's forward play.Wenger missed the transfer coup of the summer in newly-minted Chelsea player Pedro. Perhaps Yarmolenko, a left-footer who has converted from the wing to centre-forward, per Sky Sports Scout, would make up for that costly miss.He'd fit anywhere along the forward line, on either flank or through the middle.The Gunners will survive without Krychowiak. But Wenger's squad certainly needs something new in attack.Read more World Football news on BleacherReport.com
Click here to read full news..
