Arsenal fans may have been alarmed to see Nacho Monreal deployed as a makeshift centre-back during the second half of their Community Shield victory over Manchester City. Luckily, The Sky Blues weren’t in the mood to really test The Gunners, who managed to stroll to a 3-0 victory, despite their lack of decent defensive options.
This is not meant as a knock on Nacho Monreal. The Spaniard is a left-back, not a centre-back. Given his performances in the past, he deosn’t strike me as a particularly versatile player.
How have Arsenal found themselves in this situation? It’s probably because they sidelined Thomas Vermaelen for the best part of the last year, forcing themselves into a situation where he had to be sold. That’s not an issue in and of itself. The real problem is that it’s happened so close to the start of the new season.
The Gunners have limited time to bring a new player in. As a result any link to a decent defender is being treated with the utmost of seriousness.
Take The Gunners rumoured interest in Olympiacos defender, Konstantinos Manolas. Could he be the answer to Arsenal prayers?
According to The Star, Arsenal are on the ‘brink’ of landing the Greek defender, having readied an £8m bid for the player. Unfortunately, they’re set to face competition from top clubs like Napoli and Juventus.
Whilst it’d be nice to have a clear run at the player, Arsene Wenger should be able to tempt the 23-year-old to move to North London. Arsenal can offer a genuine chance at silverware in the best league in the world. He can offer regular Champions League football and the chance to develop under one of the best managers in the world.
Surely Manolas would be foolish to turn this opportunity down?
£8m looks like a good price for a youngster with a lot of potential but limited experience. He strikes me as the perfect third-choice centre-back option for The Gunners. Let’s just hope that The Professor is willing and able to close the deal.
What’s your take? Should The Gunners seal the deal for this young Greek talent?
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I Want Hummels he is a aerial threat beyond belief and one of the best defenders in Europe. Arsenal FC lack air power i’m sick and tired of us allowing us to let in easy goals on corners, free kicks, long throws and crosses into the box!!!!!! We saw it plenty of times during pre season Red Bulls corner goal, Benfica long throw goal, Monaco free kick goal. Hummels can change that Hummels is like Falcao a simple beast in defense no matter the size he just finds a way to get his head on the ball and it ends up in goals more often then usual defenders manages to do!!!!! Get this Bundesliga beast to the club not Manolas!!!!! Remember he’s German and is not happy with how things are going at Dortmund at the time We became the first English team to beat them last year a reason why we almost had Reus!!!!!!! How many key players have they lost to rivals in a matter of just two seasons Götze world cup winner and Lewandowski 2nd if not the deadliest striker in the entire Bundesliga!!!!!!!!
If not Hummels get Höwedes