Have Arsenal found the £32m solution to their problem?

This pretty much writes itself: Arsenal suffer a 5-1 drubbing and get linked to a talented, expensive young centre-back. It’s a little too easy isn’t it? Regardless, it’s Caught Offside who have joined the dots.

They suggest that Arsene Wenger has been holding ‘secret talks’ with Eliaquim Mangala’s agent ahead of the summer transfer window. It all sounds very covert doesn’t it? Why has the word ‘secret’ been used? Does the player’s club (FC Porto) know what’s going on? If the conversation is so secretive, then how are Caught Offside aware of it?

It’s all a bit fishy, but I still can’t help but hope that there’s some truth to this story. Arsenal have been solid this season, but against the big boys like Manchester City and Liverpool, they’ve crumbled like sandcastles in the wind.

Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, god love them, don’t seem to be big game players. Sure, they’ve done a great job of restraining teams like Fulham and Stoke City, but if they can’t replicate this form at the top level, they’ll never help transform Arsenal into a top club.

As such, bringing in some youthful exuberance could be the right move. Eliaquim Mangala has been cultivating a very impressive reputation indeed. I’m not sure he’d feel overawed in the big games. In fact, from what we’ve seen, he’s the kind of player who would thrive on the big stage. He’s the kind of player that Arsenal need.

Of course, the Gunners wont get him on the cheap. Caught Offside claim that it may take as much as £32m to make a deal happen. That’s an incredible sum of money for a player who’s still only 22-years-old.

Whether Arsene Wenger will be able to find this money having spent big on Mesut Ozil during the summer remains to be seen. It’s clear, however, that Mangala would represent a significant step up for the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger needs another defensive option and he loves young French footballers. That sounds like a perfect fit to me.

What’s your take? Can the Gunners really afford to chase Eliaquim Mangala? Should they be looking at cheaper options? Will Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker be able to steady the ship?

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