Arsenal: We’ve played this David Alaba game before… but I’ll play again

There are just certain names that will always be linked to Arsenal, and David Alaba is one. Still, I’ll always fall into the trap of considering it.

David Alaba is entering the same realm as Edinson Cavani and Karim Benzema. Players that are always linked to Arsenal, are just plausible to get our hopes up, before crashing down and reminding us that it was never actually going to happen.

Then they spring up again and, ever the optimists, we fall for it again, believing it could actually happen, perhaps a nagging voice in the back of your head saying not to fall for it, but for the sake of the club we love, we fall for it again.

I am willingly falling for the David Alaba link again. I wouldn’t recommend you do the same, but do know that it will be fun to spent the next couple hundred words exploring how well he would fit in at the Emirates.

We all know by now that Alaba has always been a Gooner. He openly admits to it and follows it up by saying that he would love to play at the Emirates one day, but that he is happy at Bayern Munich. You know, that whole deal.

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But if ever there was a time to make a play for David Alaba, wouldn’t this summer seem like a great time? If the Gunners get the Champions League qualification boost in tandem with their already pending Adidas sponsorship deal, there should be money to play with, and while leftback isn’t the No. 1 priority, it’s certainly in the top five.

With Nacho Monreal unlikely to continue, and Sead Kolasinac standing alone, having someone else that can play a straight fullback and challenge Kolasinac to be even better, is pretty crucial. Especially when considering how prolific the other side of the defense is, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin fighting for time.

David Alaba is a straight left back who attacks without losing out on defense. He’s got the speed, the tenacity and the age (26) to be in this for the long haul. He has always been regarded as one of the better fullbacks in the world, and it just so happens we are in the market.

That was fun, wasn’t it? I love imagining that Alaba will come to town, and I’m happy that I got the chance to explore the impossibility again. Join me in the summer when we inevitably do it again.