Jonny Evans in action for West Brom. (Getty Images)
Arsenal, despite not being considered as Premier League’s ‘Top four’ favourites this term, have picked up momentum following a slow start and are currently placed 5th in the league tally banking on consecutive wins, before losing to Manchester United on Saturday. They are currently competing in Europa League and are struggling to snap up preferred transfer targets, unlike previous campaigns.
Although hitman Alexandre Lacazette and left-back Sead Kolasinac have been majestic thus far, the Gunners’ failure to land young Frenchman Thomas Lemar has exposed the unacceptability of Europa League among most of the world’s top-notch football stars.
The Gunners are reportedly plotting a January move for £25m West Bromwich Albion centre-back Jonny Evans now, who is also being chased by league leaders Manchester City. The Citizens failed to bring him in during the summer but now will face competition from the Gunners when the window reopens in January.
The 29-year-old Northern Irish international, however, will be a perfect suit for the North Londoners over the Manchester heavyweights for a few reasons.
The Gunners must strengthen their backline that looks shallow. They need depth for the remainder of the campaign. They are now competing in four major tournaments and the unavailability of either of Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal or Shkodran Mustafi will leave their defence badly exposed with rookies like Rob Holding and Calum Chambers along with veteran German centre-back Per Mertesacker who is set to hang up his boots next summer. The presence of Evans will add options to the Gunners’ defensive line and Arsene Wenger will be a relieved man ahead of a hectic schedule.
Evans has won the Premier League title thrice while playing for Manchester United and his experience of the highest order will help the Gunners maintain defensive composure, discipline, and resilience. He has been impressive for the Baggies since his switch a couple of years back in order to attain regular minutes but is tipped to make a bigger move to achieve greater glory.
Evans was mostly used as a left centre-back in West Brom’s ‘back three’ formation under former Baggies oss Tony Pulis. Wenger has switched left-back Nacho Monreal to a makeshift central defensive role, in which the Spaniard has been impressive so far. However, he lacks physical and aerial dominance while defending deep. Evans holds all these traits and his presence will add more rigidity and resilience to the Gunners’ defence.
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