Arsenal fans will have to wait for one more year to get their hands on that Premier League trophy. Last season turned out to be very frustrating as Wenger’s men finished 2nd on the behind winners Leicester City. There is tremendous pressure on Wenger to deliver the goods after a section of fans demanded his removal from the post last season. The Gunners were the only team in the top 5 leagues in Europe not to sign an outfield player last summer, however this summer they are seemingly taking more of a proactive approach.
While goalkeeper Petr Cech was the only first team player to be signed last summer, the Gunners have already added £30 million central midfielder Granit Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder will add a lot of quality in the middle of the pitch for Arsenal, however he cannot be their only signing. The most urgent need is of a world class striker who can provide 20-25 goals per season and give the team a different direction. On the defensive side of things, Laurent Koscielny is widely regarded as one of the top center backs in the Premier League. However, the manager seemed unsure between Mertesacker and Gabriel of who was more ideally suited to partner Koscielny in the centre. Here we look at three defenders who Wenger can sign to partner Koscielny at the back.
Mehdi Benatia
Rumours have surfaced linking the Bayern Munich defender with a move to the Emirates. The 29 year old defender has found first team opportunities hard to come by at Bayern and will look for a more secured future. Mats Hummels arrival has cast further doubts over the future of Benatia. Mainly due to injuries, the Moroccan international has managed just 24 Bundesliga starts since joining the German giants in 2014. His injury record might be a concern to Arsene Wenger but there is no doubting his abilities on the pitch. If he does make a move to London, then he will surely be a quality addition to the Gunners squad.
kalidou Koulibaly
Koulibaly has been linked heavily with a move to Chelsea, however if Wenger acts fast he can snap up defender from under the nose of Conte. The Senegalese international was excellent for Napoli last season as they just conceded just 32 goals in their 38 league games, and the powerful centre back was highly instrumental in that success. Koulibaly possesses a fantastic combination of pace and strength, and would be a solid long-term replacement for Mertesacker.
John Stones
If Chelsea manage to get Koulibaly, then Arsenal can turn to this home grown talent in order to strengthen his defense. The 22 year old is everything you look for in a defender, he is strong, quick and is technically sound. He had an excellent 2014-2015 season at Everton, however he struggled hugely last season under Roberto Martinez and even found himself dropped from the side. But let’s not forget that he is still very young and has a lot to learn. Wenger has a knack of developing young talents into world class players and Stones will be a project he will be happy to get involved in.
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