Defensive Midfielder: Arsenal targets by numbers

Maxime Gonalons

Maxime Gonalons

Club – Lyon

Age – 24

Height – 187cm

Weight – 76kg

League Apps – 35

Value - £10-£12m

Tackles p/game	Interceptions p/game	Fouls conceded p/game	Dribbled past p/game	Blocked shots p/game
4 (139)	3.1 (109)	2 (70)	1.1 (37)	0.3 (9)
Key Passes p/game	Dispossessed p/game	Turnovers p/game	Pass success %	Through Ball success
0.3 (11)	1 (36)	0.8 (27)	88	0 (1/4)

Little may be known about the Frenchman from Lyon, other than the fact that we were very heavily linked with him in June. The speculation died down after for one reason or another, Gonalons decided to stay at Lyon for at least one more season. One thing is for certain, Gonalons is very highly rated in France and by regular French football viewers.

Defensively, Gonalons does everything you want in terms of breaking up the play, with more interceptions last year than anybody on this shortlist.

Gonalons also leads the way in most tackles made from this shortlist also. Not bad for a relatively unknown 24 year old. Offensively, Gonalons isn’t too bad either, averaging an 88% pass completion, with fairly low dispossession and turnover ratio’s. His good form for Lyon has not gone unnoticed by the French National set up and has recently gone on to collect 6 caps.

Verdict – After Gonalons committed his future to Lyon I can’t see this one happening this summer unless something drastic happens. Good player, positive he will go onto good things in the future.