Arsenal: Ben Chilwell a summer transfer priority

Despite finishing on the losing side on Monday night, Ben Chilwell’s quality was clear for all to see. The England international should be a summer transfer priority for Arsenal.

There were a number of impressive performances during Monday night’s 3-1 win over Leicester City. Mesut Özil was outstanding, Lucas Torreira tenacious, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang clinical. However, it wasn’t even an Arsenal player that really shone. It was actually Ben Chilwell‘s first-half performance that really caught my eye.

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Granted, once Unai Emery moved Alex Iwobi over to the right-hand side, Chilwell was not as impressive or effective. Nonetheless, his first-half performance was enough to convince me that he should be a transfer target, regardless of the fact that he has just signed a new long-term contract.

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He displayed fantastic pace and endurance, an ability to carry the ball effectively with both speed and power, and the technical ability to play neat and intricate football. Not only that, but he is very good in the air. Longtime Leicester assistant Craig Shakespeare believes that his “one-against-one defending has really improved by playing regularly”.

There are a few reasons why the acquisition of a left-back such as Chilwell is necessary. While Nacho Monreal is the epitome of consistency, he will turn 33 in February. One wonders how long he can sustain his high-level performances.

Sead Kolasinac is a fantastic offensive weapon, but his defence leaves much to be desired. He struggles with quickness and is renowned for making curious mental decisions. At wing-back, he works quite nicely, but in a back-four, there have been problems. Furthermore, it seems clear that the Cohen Bramall experiment, although romantic, is destined to fail.

Bernd Leno has shown himself capable, with both his hands and his feet, in recent weeks, while Héctor Bellerín is enjoying a quiet revival. But Arsenal must address the problems that they have at both left back and centre-back if they are to return to European football’s top table.

They have previously shown an interest in the 21-year-old England international, but this time they must follow through on their assumed interest. Champions League qualification would undoubtedly make their pursuit more straightforward with a true, long-term left-back solution like Chilwell.

Chilwell is a very promising left-back. He is the kind of player that the Gunners should be targeting next summer.