Arsenal: Sokratis muddles the picture more than he clarifies it

Arsenal’s defense may be seeing a couple new additions very soon, with Sokratis being one, but what purpose does he serve? Because it is far from clear.

Arsenal had a hell of a time keeping balls out of their net. They gave up the most goals in recent history and were a far cry from any other top six (or even top seven) team. If you didn’t gag at least once watching this defense throughout the year, then you aren’t a true fan.

It looks like the club got the picture, because the two guys being linked most heavily to the Gunners are defenders. One, a 21-year-old named Caglar Soyuncu and the other, a soon-to-be 30-year-old named Sokratis.

The former is a defender for the future. He’s someone that Sven Mislintat has been backing for years and someone that he believes is ready for the big time. Same as Konstantinos Mavropanos, except maybe with even more present-day readiness. There is no reason not to be in favor of signing Soyuncu.

Sokratis isn’t in the same boat. He’ll be turning 30 this June, and aside from struggling in a flustered defense himself all of last year, Sokratis is also known for not being able to hold down his role within that defense.

There have been better times for Sokratis. This year was the odd ball of his career, but, seeing as how he is going to be 30, there’s no great reason to expect him to turn that trajectory back the other way.

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Which leads to my point – what is the point of Sokratis?

We need to clarify this defense a bit. To weed out what isn’t working and find the anchors to build around. Sokratis does not fit into any clear need. Shkodran Mustafi is better and younger. Calum Chambers is better and younger.

So maybe he’s a rotational option, but why would we block our other rotational options – Rob Holding, Mavropanos – when they have proven to be capable? If we are going to get an older defender – great! Get someone who is a proven No. 1 without question.

If we are looking for a rotational option who could prove himself for the future – great! Don’t get someone who is 30.

There just isn’t a lot of logic behind the move. Yes, he is supposedly only going to cost £17m, but that’s £17m that could be used in any number of ways to greater affect.

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Unless Mislintat just knows that Sokratis has more to give, and can give it at Arsenal, then I don’t see why this is happening. Not with Chambers on the up, Mustafi with so much raw ability, and a slew of young options that I’d rather see utilized than Sokratis.

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