Arsenal is looking to strengthen the defence in the next few months and should target the younger generation.
With the defence causing all sort of self-inflicted problems Mikel Arteta knows which part of his squad to strengthen.
The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Dayot Upamecano, and Merih Demiral. These names are impressive not just because they are good defenders but because they are some of the youngest defenders in Europe at the moment.
Dayot Upamecano remains one of the coolest young defenders around, he is a colossus, while Demiral has been very impressive for Juventus when he can get a game.
I am impressed by Arsenal’s pursuit of these young defenders and I believe that is the way to go.
Younger defenders are the perfect fit for Arteta’s new system. The relentlessness of the press the Spaniard is demanding from the team can make older players injury-prone.
Younger defenders also have room for development and that will make it easier for Arteta to get his ideas through to them.
Arsenal does have a few young defenders already, Kieran Tierney (22), Konstantinos Mavropanos, (22) and the incoming William Saliba (18), however, they also have a few that are getting on and frankly, are not that good.
Players like David Luiz at 32 and 31-year-old Sokratis need to be offloaded and Shkodran Mustafi is probably on his way as well. That means there could be at least two spots that need replacing.
There is no guarantee that more over 30 signings will work and anyway, experience will come from the likes of 26-year-old Sead Kolasinac and 24-year-old duo Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin who are fast approaching their good years.
If Arsenal wants to rebuild for the future then they need to start by signing players for the future.
The last time I checked, Arsenal young defender were more susceptible to injuries than the older ones.
The situation we find ourselves at the club right now needs a proper blend of talented youths and experienced players.
I agree with this. There is an unhealthy obsession with age which seems peculiar to the UK. It was also a convenient excuse for Arsenal during the Arsene years at times.
Take two hypothetical but quite realistic scenarios:
1 A 30 year old who puts in regular solid performances and rarely gets injured; plays for 5 years then goes to China
2 A 22 year old, hailed as the next great thing, intermittently has great performances, but plays only about 50% of the games for 4 years. In his 5th year has a great season then is sold to Barcelona.
Which is the better deal.
Debate!!
“If Arsenal wants to rebuild for the future then they need to start by signing players for the future”
I so agree with you. Modern centre backs are different to the previous generation of CBs. Demiral, Konate, Upamecano, Tiago Djaló and our very own William Saliba, are real athletes and young, with bright futures . They are not the ‘bruisers’ of old and are lithe, and fast in body and mind. Our investments should start there…looking to the future.
No. We need quality, experienced CBs who have displayed their quality in the PL.
By all means get young defenders for the future but we desperately need Quality and experience in the back
The intensity required has exposed our youth with injuries and until we get bellerin Tierney holding and chambers back, we cant keep a large number of defenders holding up midfield options. Even with injuries we have used mustafi 4 or 5 times this season.
Sell him (17m is realistic)
I would rather give this to a youth like Medley.
I think all but Chambers will be back for pre season next year. Add to that Saliba.
If we add a player, who and what sort?
I feel we should go for experience, not so old (26-28), preferably EPL tested cb
With all this talk anout Upamecano I have to ask a question: What would pursuade a player that:1. Will probably win the major league with the team he is playing for, 2. Has an excellent coach, 3. Will be playing ECL foorball next season, 4. Plays for a very progressive and modern club, to change all that for a club that has little chance of playing ECL next season, was in complete disarray only 2 weeks ago, etc etc.?? Is he intersted? Did his club not say he’s not for sale? Why are we talking about this guy?
Spot on SA Gooner. We may well be interested in Upamecano BUT I think there is not a cat in hells chance he will come to us. For the reasons you list, PLUS Kroenke and his unwillingness to spend REAL MONEY!
Here we go again with the upamecano hype ‘the coolest’ lol you pple need to get over this kid. Dunk is five times cooler. Would be fun to watch Dayot get exposed again and again in the epl. Cant stress tbis enough:the kid is overhyped just like otamendi at valencia we all saw what happened when otamendi and mangala went to city.
Inform Holding is way better than Upemecano. FACT
We should go for experienced EPL tested CBs theres no time for upamecano to adapt to the intensity of the EPL, I would go for Ake or Dunk, they’ve proven themselves in the EPL