Arsenal Can't Leave Their Center Back Business Too Late

Arsenal have a critical need for a new center back, and manager Arsene Wenger cannot sit by as other Premier League clubs buy quality available defenders.

Arsenal look a bit stumped in the transfer market when it comes to who to buy to fill the hole in the center of their defense.

Their newly named captain Per Mertesacker went down with a serious leg injury in Arsenal’s friendly against RC Lens, and ever since that game the rumor mill has been swirling with stories about who Arsene Wenger is looking at to replace the German.

The most recent story surrounds Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen and a possible return to London. Catalonian newspaper SPORT have reported that Arsenal put in an offer for Vermaelen and the Liga BBVA Champions are “mulling it over”.

This seems questionable considering Vermaelen’s poor track record while at Barcelona. He ignominiously made only one appearance for the first team during Barca’s treble-winning 2014/15 campaign.

In the most recent season he also failed to impress Luis Enqrique, making only nine starts – a club low amongst defenders, excluding Brazilian right-back Douglas.

This move, if true, seems like such a shot in the dark considering the better defenders out there AND Arsenal’s already hesitant display in this transfer market.

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Everton’s move for Swansea captain Ashley Williams stands as the most recent top-ten (or should be top-ten next season) club acquisition of a defender, but apart from Eric Bailly joining Manchester United it has been quite quiet on that front this summer.

Perhaps every club looked at Manchester City’s massive moves for Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala and suddenly got very afraid of their purchased center halves not working out.

One player who certainly has the promise of becoming a star Premier League center back is Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal.

In the past day, however, Arsene Wenger has made been scarily unfazed by these rumors and once again confirmed that Arsenal have not sealed any new deals ahead of the new season.

Which begs the question: when is this deal going to happen?

In less than two weeks Arsenal take on Liverpool, one of the most talented attacking sides in the Premier League at the moment.

Arsenal, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel Paulista

HULL, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Gabriel Paulista of Arsenal helps Per Mertesacker to his feet after a clash of heads during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round Replay match between Hull City and Arsenal at KC Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

The Reds’ additions of Giorginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane only made their already stacked offensive line stronger. Arsenal will be in for a wake-up call should Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp get his boys firing by August 14.

The closer we get to the opening day of the Premier League, the less time a new signing has to adapt to their surroundings and gel with their teammates.

That’s the last thing Arsenal want. A solid defensive foundation is key for competitiveness in the Premier League title race, and Arsenal are in real, real danger of forcing a player to have less than a week to train with his new side before he has to go out and face the infamous Klopp counter-pressing attack.

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Real danger.

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Arsenal Can’t Leave Center Back Business Too Late

By Finn Laister-Smith | Aug 3, 2016

Arsenal have a critical need for a new center back, and manager Arsene Wenger cannot sit by as other Premier League clubs buy quality available defenders.

More from Pain in the Arsenal