Arsenal: Jerome Boateng what was meant by Sokratis

Arsenal need a change in defensive philosophy or an infusion of undeniable talent. Sokratis doesn’t fit the billing, but Jerome Boateng does.

Arsenal’s defense let in over 50 goals last season, a tally that literally hurts to type. In the process, it became clear that while our young talents give us a lot to look forward to, our venerable veteran Laurent Koscielny has reached the end of the line.

From that sense, I understand the need for a proven, weathered general to play centerback alongside these young up-and-comers. Apparently the club understood as well, although their answer to the opening came in an unconvincing form – Sokratis.

The Greek defender, who turns 30 this June, has been on a downward trajectory at Borussia Dortmund, mirroring the trend at the club itself, at least from a defensive perspective, and as such, many Gunners look at the move with wonder – what is it supposed to accomplish?

The objective was to find a proven marshal for the back line, someone that can hold everything together and ensure that what happened last year cannot happen again. No single person can be called upon to do all the defensive duties, obviously, but there exist leaders out there on the defensive side who can bring out the best in those around them.

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Sokratis is not one of those guys. But Jerome Boateng is.

Boateng is one of the best defenders in the known world. He is a World Cup champion with Germany and with his club football, has known nothing but winning with Bayern Munich.

And he has recently admitted that he could see himself leaving Bayern to pursue other challenges.

It’s a slim chance, given the lack of Champions League with this club. Chelsea and Manchester United were both thrown into the chatter, but not Arsenal, who will have very little to attract Boateng other than fanciful promises of future golden years.

But the door has been cracked open, and it would be a crime not to pursue it. It was just two summers ago that Mats Hummels passed by without so much as an offer, and Boateng is even better than Hummels.

This is the defender that should be the apple of the club’s eye. Not Sokratis. They are the same age, from the same league, but have drastically different standings in the world of football.

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Even if it doesn’t happen, admitting defeat and settling on Sokratis is a sign of complacency. There is still a lot to attract a player to the Emirates, and they can be deployed to woo arguably the best defender in the world.

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