Why Arsenal should’ve signed Kevin Malcuit
Arsenal have gotten off to a rocking start in the league with two fairly convincing victories and the right sort of momentum heading into the game against Liverpool on the weekend.
There is a real buzz at Arsenal because of some of their new signings in the summer but they still look a little frail defensively and this was visible in the game against Burnley with Ashley Barnes being rewarded with a deserved goal at the Emirates.
They’ve currently been using Ainsley Maitland Niles at right-back, who’s made a very bright start and was particularly impressive against Newcastle in the first game week.
One player who they were linked with was Frenchman Kevin Malcuit from Napoli, who really found his feet in the second half of the Serie A season. Malcuit moved to Napoli after impressing in the previous season in the Ligue 1 with Lille.
Last season, he made 27 appearances in all competitions, including 24 in the Serie A. By the end of the season, he was ahead in the pecking order to Elseid Hysaj, who had been a regular under Maurizio Sarri.
Arsenal have Hector Bellerin, who is a fantastic personality and is one of their best players but he’s still nursing an injury and will likely play a lot of cup games before he is ready to start playing regularly in the league.
No player is ever the same after a serious injury like the one that Bellerin suffered and Bellerin is still quite young and is a part of Arsenal’s future. Malcuit is 27 and will help navigate the many competitions that Arsenal will be competing in this season.
Malcuit is quite a physical specimen and has the athleticism to go up and down the flank for the full 90 minutes and would have perfectly fitted in with the physicality of the Premier League. He would also hug the touchline and allow new signing Nicolas Pepe to cut in inside and have less defensive responsibility.
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Pepe isn’t the most defensively aware winger and Malcuit would be a perfect foil on that side.
He registered 3 assists in all competitions and would have definitely improved a side that’s always playing on the front foot like Arsenal.