Arsenal: If they aren’t careful I’ll start believing in Samuel Umtiti

I really don’t want to believe that Samuel Umtit is a possibility for Arsenal, but if this keeps up, I’m going to have no choice but to get my hopes up.

Arsenal‘s defense should take top priority this summer. While the wings need help, and the midfield does too, at least they have viable youth options that are on the up-and-up. Options that Unai Emery clearly believes in.

The defense is different. Yes, we’re getting Rob Holding back and yes, Konstantinos Mavropanos is still somebody that we used to know, but all in all, our two best defenders are old, Shkodran Mustafi is still Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal is probably leaving as well.

With the return of Calum Chambers as a utility man, that gives us three young defenders, all who need to prove themselves, as two old defenders, one of whom’s health keeps letting him down.

Like I said, help is needed. And Samuel Umtiti would be one hell of a help.

The problem is, Umtiti is at that caliber where doubts are immediately cast, just because Arsenal don’t usually make moves for guys like that. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were exceptions, as was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and you can lump Alexandre Lacazette in there as well, but the Gunners are primarily a “let’s see what we can find under this rock” kind of club.

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They don’t make big purchases, particularly on the defense, where they have literally never made a big purchase. Sokratis is the biggest. And while he’s been great, he’s by no means carries the international reputation of Umtiti.

As such, I wanted to dismiss it. I really do. I want to pretend that it could never happen and ignore all the rumors, but when Unai Emery himself starts talking up the player, and bragging about how he always has French players on his team, and how Umtiti is a top quality player, well then what am I supposed to do? All I can do is get my hopes up.

Here’s the thing. Everyone knows we need the help. Matthijs De Ligt isn’t going to happen, and he’s going to cost £70m-ish, yet a lot of us were actively thinking about the Dutchman joining our ranks.

So with Umtiti’s price tickling the £60m range, is it really so ridiculous to start actively considering him as a realistic possibility when De Ligt was apparently one as well?

I don’t want to consider it. Really, I don’t. But… wouldn’t it be nice?