Arsenal slammed for missing out on World Cup winner Nzonzi

The Gunners have been criticized for deciding not to sign the former Premier League midfielder.

Peter Crouch has told Arsenal that they should have signed Steven Nzonzi during the summer transfer window.

Peter Crouch has become a bit of a quote machine since retiring. Recently, he had been talking about a few different hings but one notable topic was his former Stoke teammate Steven Nzonzi.

Nzonzi is a World Cup winner with France in 2018, who played alongside Crouch at Stoke City before moving to Sevilla ahead of the 2015/16 campaign, with the 30-year-old now at Galatasaray on loan from Serie A side Roma.

Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, former striker Crouch said it was “madness” that the North London club did not go in for the midfielder. Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Nzonzi in 2015, but they chose not to act on it at the time.

Arsenal now have plenty of issues right, but one serious one is the lack of a composed physical presence in midfield who can control the team and anchor them. Many thought Granit Xhaka could become that player but he’s so incredibly inconsistent and unreliable.

“I have wanted Arsenal to address the defensive balance of their side for years and never understood why they didn’t buy Steven Nzonzi.

“Steven played with me at Stoke and he would have been perfect to provide protection in midfield. He ended up going to Sevilla for €10 million and it was madness Arsenal allowed that to happen.

“The best sides spot their deficiencies and address them to progress.”

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