Arsenal: One dream target to sign from every Premier League club

Sheffield United

Jack O’Connell might be the best centre-back in the Premier League that most people will not have heard of. Sheffield United have been a breath of fresh air throughout the year and are now deservedly fighting for a Champions League or European place. And at the heart of their truly superb campaign is Chris Wilder’s three centre-halves: Chris Basham on the right, John Egan in the middle, and O’Connell on the left.

Of the three, O’Connell would be the most astute signing. He is the youngest, at 25, is the most comfortable in possession, as evidenced by his forays down the left flank in Wilder’s revolutionary overlapping centre-back system, and has a nicely rounded skill set that is perfect suited to modern football: quick, strong in the air, comfortable with the ball at his feet.

There has been much talk of an England call-up, which would be well-deserved, and alongside his fellow centre-backs and Dean Henderson in goal, O’Connell has led United to the second-best defensive record in the division — only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals and only Liverpool and Burnley have kept more clean sheets. In their search for a centre-back, Arsenal could do a lot worse than O’Connell.