Why Arsenal should go all out to sign Presnel Kimpembe in January
Back in June, a report from the Metro had claimed that Arsenal were interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe. However, a deal didn’t materialise and the French defender has since stayed with PSG.
Presnel Kimpembe, 24, found it difficult to dislodge either of Marquinhos or Thiago Silva from central defence last season. He has fallen further down the pecking order following the arrival of Abdou Diallo from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The academy graduate is yet to feature for PSG this season as the defender is still recovering from the groin injury.
It remains to be seen how much playing time the Frenchman gets after he recovers from his injury but Arsenal must definitely reignite their interest in the defender and attempt to sign him when the transfer window reopens in January.
Arsenal made a host of signings in the summer transfer window, managing to bring in some high-profile players despite having a limited budget. Unai Emery wants to take his team back to the Champions League and has been sufficiently backed by the club to make it happen next year. The Gunners boss lost his skipper Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux but he immediately replaced the Frenchman with David Luiz.
David Luiz was the only central defender to arrive at the Emirates, which is really surprising from Arsenal’s point of view as they struggled massively while defending last season. Arsenal did sign William Saliba from Saint-Etienne but the teenage will spend this season on loan with the Ligue 1 club.
With Koscielny gone and Shkodran Mustafi linked with an exit, Emery will need to sign a centre-back in January. And that player should be none other than Presnel Kimpembe.
A technically-gifted central defender, Kimpembe can also play at left-back when required. He is a ball-playing centre-half who likes to come out of his line with the ball and make a quick pass forward to one of his teammates. This versatility in the defensive half can be beneficial for Arsenal, who lack depth in all areas of defence. It is especially applicable for such a rigorous schedule of English football.
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The Frenchman is quick, agile and robust in the challenge. Kimpembe’s composure on the ball, pace and reading of the game would make him a quality addition to the Arsenal backline. Furthermore, he has also good European experience which will come handy for Emery’s side.
Verdict
Even if the Gunners have signed Luiz, he’s a stop-gap solution for Emery’s side. And while Saliba will arrive at the Emirates next summer, it’s crucial to invest in a central defender in January. All in all, Kimpembe would be the right choice.