Arsenal: Jonny Evans isn't Virgil van Dijk... or Nacho Monreal

Arsenal’s defensive set up is getting a massive overhaul and while Jonny Evans isn’t Virgil van Dijk, he’s certainly not Nacho Monreal either.

Arsenal’s defense is currently the second worst in the Premier League, second only to West Ham and their glorious cock-up that is a back line. Thankfully, Arsene Wenger appears to be mobilizing as quickly as he possibly can, seeing as how we have waited until the last minute to fix the problems.

To be fair, it seemed like not much defensive help would be needed. All we needed was Laurent Koscielny to return and Shkodran Mustafi as well, but seeing as how the two have yet to be played together and Mustafi appears to be on his way out, there isn’t any way around it – we need help.

Rumors of Virgil van Dijk got our hopes up, but those rumors quickly turned into a familiar name – Jonny Evans.

Evans was once an up-and-comer at Manchester United before dropping off a bit and landing at West Brom, but even now, I don’t understand why he gets so much stick. Sure, he isn’t at the same level as van Dijk, but he is of a higher level than the hodge-podge Wenger is trying to throw together back there.

Nacho Monreal is not a center back. Rob Holding isn’t ready. Sead Kolasinac needs to be used out wide and, for whatever reason, Calum Chambers apparently means nothing. With Mustafi on his way out, that leaves Koscielny and… what? The continued use of fullbacks at center back?

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Evans is a solution to that. He is a solid defender, a lot like what I think Chambers could be if given the right chance. And sure, he isn’t a big name like van Dijk (who we should also be getting) but West Brom has always had a solid defense behind the Northern Irishman.

In 2015/16, the problem was scoring. They only surrendered 48 goals, the least of any team outside of the top six (and they finished 14th).

2016/17 was more of the same, as they surrendered just 51 goals.

This year, they’ve surrendered just one solitary goal through three games. Even though that has been without Evans.

Evans has been their most effective defender and would add a competent force to our back line. And as of right now, competence is an upgrade, because what we are currently working with looks like an unorganized amoeba of ineptitude.

Evans’ defensive numbers will stand up to most top defenders out there. So much so that you’d have to include him in any conversation detailing the upper echelon of defenders in England.

Next: Arsenal's Predicted FIFA 18 Player Ratings

Don’t let the name scare you out of what could end up being a very solid deal. While I am still staunchly against the sale of Mustafi, adding Evans (and van Dijk) is a great step towards repairing the damage.

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Arsenal: Jonny Evans isn’t Virgil van Dijk… or Nacho Monreal

By Josh Sippie | Aug 30, 2017

Arsenal’s defensive set up is getting a massive overhaul and while Jonny Evans isn’t Virgil van Dijk, he’s certainly not Nacho Monreal either.

More from Pain in the Arsenal