It was obvious enough on deadline day of the summer transfer window that if Arsenal failed to bring in more defensive recruits, they were going to struggle to produce results throughout the rest of the year. Hindsight is 20/20, but there is a certain degree of inevitability about The Gunners most recent results.
Their inability to hold a lead is directly related to their failure to sign enough defenders in the summer (and the fact that Arsene Wenger let both Bacary Sagna AND Thomas Vermaelen leave). How can Arsenal expect to hold onto their leads when they’ve got Nacho Monreal playing as a centre-back (he’s hardly the most imposing chap, is he?) and a 19-year-old playing as their right-back?
With all their midfielders out of form, The Gunners have a soft centre and a weakened defense. That’s not a good mix.
In other words, the January transfer window can’t seem to come quickly enough for Arsene Wenger. It will provide him with another opportunity to do the work he should have done in the summer.
This brings me to The Metro‘s claim that Arsenal are preparing to have a ‘sit down’ with rival club Manchester United over a deal to sign their centre-back, Chris Smalling. If these claims are true, then there’s much to discuss.
Manchester United wouldn’t sell a player to a rival unless they felt he was of little value. Arsene Wenger wouldn’t add a player to his squad unless he felt that he had the requisite quality to make it at The Emirates. It’ll be interesting to see who ends up being right.
The aforementioned source claims that United value the English defender at about £10m. That sounds like a fair price for a player with a mixed reputation.
Arsenal fans may feel like there are better players out there, but Chris Smalling has Premier League experience and a considerable amount of know-how. He’d be able to adapt to his new situation quickly and I have little doubt that he’d improve Arsenal’s defense.
He’s got to be better than Nacho Monreal any way.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal really be interested in Chris Smalling?
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Yes is the answer. Arsene wanted Smalling before United poached him from Fulham. Smalling is a Gooner and is 100% better than Monreal.
Chris Smalling? With him in the Man U line up, Man U has not been good defensively. Simply put, there are better defensive players than chris that Arsene may sign. If LVG lets Smalling to come to Arsenal, then it means he has no faith in him because he has his own challenges in defence himself. If indeed LVG can let him come, will he be a good addition to Arsenal? Admittedly, he is an improvement on Monreal as a centre back, albeit marginally, but then if we are to challenge for titles, he must be brought in as a back up. Chambers has even got more potential as a centre back.