Do Arsenal need Schalke's Julian Draxler?

Julian Draxler

Schalke play-maker Julian Draxler has admitted he would be ‘very interested’ in a future transfer to Arsenal, according to the Metro. The 20-year-old is seen as the rising star of German football and has been consistently linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months.

After helping Germany beat England 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday, Draxler admitted that he will assess his situation next year.

“I have always said English teams are very big clubs and Arsenal is of course one of them. Of course I sometimes speak to Mesut [Ozil] or Per [Mertesacker] about the team, about the club, and they always have good words and they tell me nice things,” he said.

“You never know what happens in the summer but Arsenal is a very, very nice team. They always have very young players, they play attractive football and that’s what I like.

But Draxler maintains there is no chance of him moving mid-season as he does not want to put his World Cup chances in jeopardy by sitting on the bench at a new club.

Despite barely being out of his teens, Draxler is in high demand for a number of reasons. His form at both domestic and continental level has been extremely impressive.

Draxler Chances Created 2013/14

During the 2013/14 Bundesliga campaign, he has featured in 11 of Schalke’s 12 games, scoring just once in total. He has, however, created 11 chances for his team mates, assisting three of the club’s goals.

In Europe, Draxler has scored in both of the German outfit’s Champions League victories. His exquisite strike against Basel on Matchday Two proved decisive, giving his team a 1-0 victory in Switzerland. He has also contributed four key passes and one assist in this tournament.

Draxler Take-Ons 2013/14

The youngster’s main strengths lie in his passing, dribbling and shooting abilities. This season he has successfully taken on an opponent in 75% of his attempts, whilst 85% of his passes have found a teammate.

He has always shown fantastic signs of potential, but this campaign he appears to have added maturity to his game. His performances have improved and he is now well on the way to establishing himself in Europe and the German national side.

When comparing his present form to Arsenal’s current options, with a performance score of 275 points Draxler is actually outplaying the majority of the Gunner’s midfield players, with the exception of Aaron Ramsey.

The big question is, do Arsenal need another playmaker? After the summer arrival of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, the position is already occupied by a world class player. He needs time to fully establish himself in the English top flight, but Draxler’s compatriot is Arsenal’s record transfer for good reason.

Schalke’s playmaker is young and extremely talented, his addition would only increase Arsene Wenger’s squad depth at the Emirates and this wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. The midfielder has his entire career ahead of him and he could eventually become a key player for Arsenal, should he join the club.

However, with a €45 million clause in his contract, Draxler would not come cheap and this could discourage Wenger from making a move. He would perhaps benefit from joining an alternative club. A club in which he would be a guaranteed first team player.