3. Maxime Gonalons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFNz6qpJ5GM
The next player on my list could be described as a poor man’s Javi Martínez – although that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Maxime currently plays for Olympique Lyonnais, having joined their academy at the age of 10.
Now 25, the Frenchman has matured into a tremendous player.
Like Martínez, Gonalons likes to sit deep, sweep up loose balls, and control the flow of play with short, accurate passes. He is more than capable with the ball at his feet, and arguably has – along with Alex Song – the best ball control out of all the players on this list. You can also expect to see him pull off the odd driving run towards the opposition’s box; such is his ability to control while sprinting at speed.
The only problem with Gonalons is his consistency, and this is where the “poor man’s Martínez” comparison comes in.
If Arsenal were to sign the Frenchman, he would have a few bad games. His eye for a long pass can end up forfeiting his side’s possession of the ball, and the odd lapse in concentration can give the opposing team goal scoring opportunities at his expense.
He would only cost around £10-18 million to sign and, weaknesses aside, is one of my favourite players on this list.