Arsenal have clearly decided to play the long game in their pursuit of defensive solidity. Word emerging from within the corridors of power at the Emi...
Arsenal have clearly decided to play the long game in their pursuit of defensive solidity. Word emerging from within the corridors of power at the Emirates suggests the Gunners have made a formal approach to Paris Saint Germain regarding one of their backline assets. It is a move that signals intent from a club desperate to bridge the gap at the very apex of English football.But let us be clear about what this truly represents. This is not merely a shopping trip. It is a statement. Mikel Arteta, a manager obsessed with control and structure, knows that his squad has been a cut of cloth short when it comes to raw, battle hardened defensive experience. The current back four have shown flashes of brilliance, sure, but there have been moments of squeaky bum time where a cool head and a European pedigree have been sorely missed.What would this French reinforcement bring to the party Think of a defender who does not balk at the low block, who reads transitional play before it even develops. That is the profile Arsenal currently lack. You cannot coach the kind of cunning required to snuff out a counter attack in the Champions League; you either have it or you don't. PSG, for all their star dust, possess players who have been in the mixer of the highest pressure games.The financials, as you would expect, are going to be the sticking point. Paris do not exactly run a charity for Premier League rivals. Arsenal will need to be clever with the structure of the deal. One suspects that Edu, with his phone glued to his ear, is already working on the add ons and the payment schedule. Pulling this off would send a real jolt through the fanbase. It would tell the supporters that the board have finally swallowed the bitter pill: you have to pay top dollar for a spine that can last the distance.The clock is ticking and the competition is fierce. But if Arsenal can get this over the line, they will have added a layer of steel to a team that, at times, has looked too pretty for its own good.
