Ever since Arsenal’s Francis Coquelin reluctantly hobbled off injured in a frustrating away loss at the hands of West Brom last month, the phrases ‘defensive midfielder’ and ‘the January transfer window’ have been said together in the same sentence many a time in light of the latest injury-related developments at the Emirates.

With the French battler unlikely to return to Arsene Wenger’s first team plans until the New Year, many Arsenal fans now believe that the North London club should certainly be putting their money where their mouth is this January – especially as the Emirates faithful famously endured a rather fruitless summer transfer period.

So then, as Southampton’s Victor Wanyama has seen his name linked with the Gunners rather consistently these past few seasons, does the 24-year-old Kenyan really represent the ideal signing for Arsenal this winter?

Even though Wanyama remains greatly admired by the St. Mary’s faithful, Arsene Wenger’s determined outfit would still benefit greatly with his services on board throughout the remainder of the 2015/16 campaign. The Gunners have been crying out for a no-nonsense defensive midfielder for quite some time now – with some sections of the Emirates support already showing their impatience.

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When it comes to holding down the space just in front of his respective back-four, breaking up play in the middle of the park often with rather impressive composure – and simply providing his team with that all important sense of reliability right when it matters most – Victor Wanyama has really thrived in the Premier League thus far.

If Southampton hadn’t of sold off most of their marquee players in the run up to the current campaign, the former Celtic favourite would likely still be playing a major role within one of the Premier League’s most exciting outfits. Wanyama simply goes down as an integral member of Ronald Koeman’s current squad, and would easily provide Arsene Wenger with the steel and power his side have notoriously been missing for quite some time now.

However, whilst the midfielder’s physical strength and determination would arguably be perfectly suited down at the Emirates right about now, it still remains difficult to imagine the current Southampton favourite turning out with the Gunners as early as the January transfer window. Victor Wanyama has admittedly been linked with Arsenal somewhat consistently of late – but as Wenger is seemingly yet to make his move, perhaps this particular story remains little more than loose transfer talk at best.

For all his qualities in the middle of the park, Victor Wanyama is possibly a shade too one dimensional to be truly considered at the Emirates. Wenger has always shown a preference towards versatile midfielders when it comes to singling out meaningful transfer targets, and as the 24-year-old’s overall technical ability hasn’t exactly set the Premier League alight so far, maybe Wenger will ultimately chose to look elsewhere this January.

The likes of Lars Bender and William Carvalho have also seen their names linked heavily with a move to North London in recent transfer windows after all. Although Wanyama certainly arrives as a potential target definitely worthy of consideration, both the aforementioned players arguably represent a wider range of ability.

Yet even if Arsenal did in-fact turn their reported interest in the Southampton star into something more genuine in Januart, the Saints will likely reject any subsequent advances for their first team players anyway. The St. Mary’s faithful have witnessed enough selling at their club to last a lifetime in recent seasons, so perhaps Ronald Koeman will finally put his foot down when the time comes in 2015/16.

With Sadio Mane also experiencing a fair amount of speculation surrounding his potential move from the south coast to Old Trafford this winter, Southampton will once again have a fight on their hands in maintaining a sense of loyalty within the club’s current ranks. But as the January transfer window would nonetheless seem a rather inopportune moment to start selling up at St. Mary’s, it’s still hard to picture either Mane or Wanyama moving on at this particular stage.

So although Arsenal do indeed need some cover amid the defensive midfield position in their team right about now, Victor Wanyama seemingly won’t be the man Arsene Wenger sees fit to draft in at the Emirates this January.

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