Arsenal Opinions: Francisco Montero can be a long-term defensive solution
Arsenal’s defence has been one if their biggest concerns of the last decade. As a team who’s fans pride themselves of the ‘Invinvibles’ season where they managed to go the whole term without kneeling to defeat a single time, a defence this shaky is almost unacceptable.
During Arsene Wenger’s last few years in charge of what was a faltering football club, the Gunners fans had no idea as to what the manager’s first-choice defence line was. With multiple average signings made for the position, there was a clear lack of quality.
Even now though, other than the recent signing of Sokratis, which has worked wonders for them, Arsenal are yet to make a real high profile defensive signing. With various players being linked to the Emirates, there is an obvious need of signings.
Their current central defensive options include Laurent Koscielny, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
While these are top players, they have proven themselves to be inconsistent and undependable and while some of them are able to do the bare minimum, others like Mustafi have singlehandedly cost the Gunners points and matches.
While Laurent Koscielny remains to be the captain of the first team whenever he is on the pitch, the Frenchman’s absences this term have seriously cost this Arsenal side a lot of progress. Despite Unai Emery’s arrival and takeover at the helm of this club, the defenders just aren’t good enough.
Although Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira were brought in to toughen up at the back, the addition of a quality centre-half is what the Gunners so desperately need at this point along their development.
Atletico Madrid’s 20-year-old Spanish centre-half Francisco Montero is a highly rated youngster who’s could eventually be the ideal centre-half candidate for the Emirates faithful.
He is a pacy centre-half who’s awareness and understanding of the game at such a young age make him an excellent prospect. His movement and presence in the box are also very useful to his side.
He has featured for the Atletico Madrid first-team in 5 La Liga games and 2 Champions League matches as well. To get into a team with as much quality at Atleti tales real class and having played for Diego Simeone’s men at such a young age, his pedigree is unquestionable.
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His efforts for the youth system at Atleti haven’t gone unnoticed and he has been rewarded with crucial first team minutes this term. His attributes would match up perfectly with Arsenal’s require and Unai Emery must complete a move for this talented Spaniard.