Arsenal Should Have Insider Marquinhos Knowledge

Arsenal needs a defender, and they might as well grab one for the future while they’re at it. Dare they try PSG again and pursue Marquinhos?

So, the defender search might be heating up, as Arsenal are now heavily linked to both Neven Subotic, and, yet again, Marquinhos. The Brazilian is just 22 years old and, go figure, he is on the exact same path as another Arsenal target, Adrien Rabiot.

Many, including Marquinhos brother, Luan, believe that the talented center back should be moving on, seeing as how his path to consistent playing time is being blocked by PSG. Thiago Silva has been a mainstay at the Parisian outfit, but when they added David Luiz a year after they acquired Marquinhos, they essentially put a little a bit of a road block in the path of the young Brazilian in question.

While Marquinhos still played 1900 minutes, most of that was picked up towards the end of the season when PSG had already secured the title and everyone was sneaking in some playing time. It wasn’t a show of intent or an indication that there was a better future ahead, it was just proof that Marquinhos is in the second string.

It’s amazing, the similarities between Rabiot and Marquinhos, especially now that Grzegorz Krychowiak was acquired. Both are young, have a ton of talent, but find their path to stardom impeded at PSG. Competition is good, but when you’re consistently being blocked, you need to start asking questions. I liken it to Isco, who was finally given his well-earned position by Zinedine Zidane.

I still believe that Arsenal should have made an attempt at Rabiot. He was unhappy with his set-up and he would have been easy to pluck away. But they waited and waited and before long, he had papered over the rifts with the club and now he’s settled. They cannot do the same if they really want Marquinhos. But they should know that. They should essentially have insider knowledge.

Arsenal has a window of opportunity to land Marquinhos. Thiago Silva is 31 and Luiz is 29. They are reaching the point where Marquinhos may start seeing more time. That means that Arsenal needs to move now or miss out on him. Just like Rabiot.

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Marquinhos would be facing a challenge to break into Arsenal’s first team, but the opening is there, moreso than it is at PSG, who set all kinds of records last year with the current defense. Why would they change things up now?

Meanwhile, while Arsenal’s defense provided the most clean sheets in England, it’s no secret that they have some gaps to fill. With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel both showing signs of inconsistency, another option would be rather preferable. Nay, it is a necessity.

Marquinhos would have the Brazilian connection with Gabriel, but more importantly, he is still young and can be molded into a long-term solution in Arsenal’s defense.

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However, the problem is a word that I haven’t used lately: “Ruthlessness”. Wenger has to be ruthless to land Marquinhos and again, my belief in that is lacking. It would be a fantastic signing, as Marquinhos’ athleticism is outstanding. But it would be hard to fathom Wenger wedging himself into Marquinhos’ corner and sweet-talking him to Arsenal.

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