Why Lewis Dunk would be a smart signing for Unai Emery’s Arsenal
Back in June 2018, Daily Mirror had claimed that Arsenal were interested in signing Brighton defender Lewis Dunk. However, they cooled their interest in the defender and no deal materialised.
Lewis Dunk has proven himself to be a reliable and highly committed presence at the heart of Brighton’s backline during the last two Premier League seasons.
The 27-year-old is a Brighton boy through and through, helping the club win top-flight promotion in 2017. He also played a huge role in supporting the Seagulls avoid relegation last season under Chris Hughton, who was surprisingly sacked one day after the end of 2018/19 campaign.
The one-cap England international has hit the ground running in the new campaign, with Graham Potter’s Brighton now 11th on the table. With Dunk impressing again at the heart of the defence, Arsenal must not hesitate to reignite their interest in the defender this January.
There is a real uncertainty right now at the Emirates Stadium after some poor results of late, with Unai Emery’s job far from safe. (h/t The Daily Mail) The Gunners are sixth in the table after a run of two wins in 10 games but have a kind run of fixtures after the international break with Southampton, Norwich, Brighton and West Ham their next four opponents.
The North London giants certainly need reinforcements in defence after conceding 17 goals in 12 league games. The centre-back pairing of David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos haven’t worked, while Rob Holding hasn’t set the world alight after returning from injury.
Saint-Etienne’s William Saliba is due to return ahead of the new season but Arsenal need someone to immediately fix their leaky defence.
Lewis Dunk could be that player for the Gunners. According to WhoScored, the Englishman has started all the games in the Premier League this season, and in his 12 appearances, he averages 3.3 clearances, 0.6 blocks, 2.2 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game, making him a unit that Emery could rely upon.
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He’s thriving at present in Potter’s Brighton side and there are no obvious weaknesses in his game. At 27, he’s operating at the peak of his powers. Emery’s Arsenal are in major need of some fresh centre-back options moving forward and Dunk is someone who could be a great addition to the North Londoners.
Verdict
A product of the Brighton academy, this would be a major step forward in Dunk’s playing career. A move to Arsenal would be the perfect step in the 27-year-old’s career.