Arsenal: Virgil van Dijk simply adding to the crowd

Arsenal are again being linked with a move for Virgil van Dijk. His addition, though, would simply add to the crowd. For that reason, I find such rumours difficult to believe.

As the summer transfer window slowly continues to build towards a climax, the rumour mill relentless turns, churning out names and fees and wages and contract disputes and negotiations and ridiculous, tenuous links that belie the truth. Arsenal, given their fans’ frustration at the historic lack of investment, are often at the heart of these rumours, with media companies exploiting the fans’ desperation to generate ‘engaging’ content.

It is, unfortunately, becoming more and more difficult to weed out the meaningless, unfounded reports from the genuine ones, the ones that have been well-researched, from a significant and honest source. Without little to work with, often the best way to evaluate the validity of a report is to consider the likelihood of the deal to ever take place.

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That is the case with Virgil van Dijk and an alleged move to North London. The Southampton centre-half looked destined for Liverpool earlier in the window, with Jurgen Klopp looking to bolster a weak and undermanned defence. However, after complaints to the Premier League regarding possible ‘tapping up’, Liverpool withdrew their interest and any possibility of the signing was ground to a painful, crushing halt.

Since then, van Dijk has been linked with several of the Premier League’s elite clubs, including Arsenal, with the most recent reports suggesting that Arsene Wenger sees the towering Dutchman as the perfect long-term replacement for Per Mertesacker to partner Shkodran Mustafi, who will shift across to succeed Laurent Koscielny.

On the surface, it does not seem like a too far-fetched suggestion to be true. However, dig a little deeper, and it makes almost no sense for Wenger to be pursuing such a player.

The primary reason for van Dijk to not be a serious consideration of Wenger’s is the presence of both Rob Holding and Calum Chambers. Wenger has heralded the development of both youngsters, proclaiming that the future of the Arsenal defence rests on their shoulders. Why would he bring in another body at a position where there is already great strength in depth?

Moreover, with Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista in the squad, there are experienced options for Wenger to turn to if he so chooses. In fact, it could feasibly be argued that centre-half is the strongest position of the whole of the Arsenal squad.

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Bringing in van Dijk would simply add to the crowd. It is nonsensical and clashes with the strict principles that Wenger unwaveringly manages the club with. For that reason, I find any such reports difficult to believe.

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