Arsenal: Jerome Boateng can make misstep a raving success

Arsenal have bizarrely loan out Calum Chambers, but that can all look brilliant if they could sneak in and nab Jerome Boateng.

Arsenal‘s defense looked like a finely-woven baskets, with not a piece out of place and all the hope in the world to look forward to. There were young guys galore, a veteran guidepost or two, and just a lot to be optimistic about.

There was no need to go around, meddling with the set-up. But that is what the Gunners are looking like doing, in the form of a season-long loan move for Calum Chambers. No, it isn’t 2016, he isn’t going on a loan to Boro to establish himself, because that already happened. This would be a re-do.

In the wake of this exit, there have been incoming rumors as well, namely the one to Croatian stand-out Domagoj Vida, who would certainly be a welcome addition, albeit one that I never saw as necessary until they went off and constructed this loan move.

And, barring something magnificent (which is surely possible), I’ll probably be saying at the end of the year that, while Vida was nice and all, it was all unnecessary, because Chambers would have done the same.

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I’ve even dubbed a Chambers loan as the first misstep of the summer, because that is exactly what it would be.

But that misstep can become a raving success in one, unlikely outcome – if they manage to sign someone demonstrably better. Vida may be a veteran improvement, but having never played at the top of the footballing world, there is some hesitation there.

Jerome Boateng, though? That is a different story. The German powerhouse opened the door to a move this summer, but thus far, Manchester United have looked like the chief suitor, as they have money to throw at whoever they want. 5th place is beckoning, after all.

Boateng should become a top candidate for the Gunners, if Chambers really is set to go on loan. I love the idea of Vida coming to town, even if I wish it were in different circumstances. But for Boateng, I don’t care the circumstances, just bring him to town. Because you can’t do better than Boateng. Literally.

To reiterate, I’m bitter that Chambers may be leaving. Vida could work out quite well. I admire his passion. But Boateng is the best of the best. You can’t do better than him, and it would be nice to be elite at both ends of the formation, from attack to defense.