Arsenal should not make the mistake of signing Alberto Moreno
According to Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in signing Liverpool’s out-of-favour left-back Alberto Moreno in the summer on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has less than a year left on his current deal which is set to expire next summer and he is unlikely to be offered a new deal at Anfield. (h/t Daily Mail)
However, the Gunners will face stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid who are also keeping a close eye on the Spaniard. (h/t Daily Mail)
After a tough start to the season, the Gunners have finally settled down in the Premier League. In fact, they have turned their fortunes around in an emphatic manner. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight games across all competitions and their wonderful form under Unai Emery has propelled them to the top four in the Premier League standings.
Upon his arrival in the summer, Emery decided to bolster his midfield and defensive options and brought in the likes of Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and Sokratis. To be honest, all his summer signings have played their part so far in the campaign.
With 18 points from their first eight games, Arsenal are only two points behind table-toppers Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, all of whom are tied on points. There is still a long way to go in the season but going by the form Arsenal have shown so far, there is still an outside chance of them pushing for the title.
And to do that, they need to bolster their squad and pile up consistent performances against the top sides. Arsenal lost 2-0 to Manchester City on opening day but it would be harsh to judge them based on that performance.
One of the areas that need strengthening is the left-back position. Veteran Nacho Monreal has done enough to retain his position in the line-up as the first-choice left-back but Arsenal need more options to cover for his absence. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who started Arsenal’s first game against City in the absence of the Spaniard, suffered a minor fracture to his tibia but is expected to be back before the end of the year.
Sead Kolasinac was ruled out for the first few games due to an injury but Emery hasn’t looked very keen on using him since he made a return from his injury. He played against Qarabag in the Europa League but is yet to feature in the Premier League.
Given that, Monreal is already 32 and neither Maitland-Niles nor Kolasinac has cemented their places in the line-up, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Gunners to add one more left-back to their squad.
But they should not make the mistake of signing the 26-year-old Alberto Moreno. He came to the Premier League with a lot of promise but has proved himself to be a glaring misfit for English football over the course of his time at Liverpool. Undoubtedly, he is speedy and can be a genuine threat in the other half but that is not the yardstick upon which he should be judged.
As evident from his performances for Liverpool, Moreno has struggled to cope with the flow of attacks from the flanks. He doesn’t have the greatest positional sense among the left-backs but that is not his only weakness.
The 26-year-old’s game reading and situational awareness have been called into question numerous times in the past and he is certainly not the most disciplined of full-backs either. Actually, he lacks the tactical aspect in his game to survive in the Premier League.
Read More:- Who is this 19-year-old German ace on Arsenal’s radar? The next Mesut Ozil?
Hence, it would be a massive risk for Arsenal if they sign Moreno on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The Gunners already have three specialist left-backs in their ranks and they need not seek immediate cover for that position. Emery has managed Moreno in his earlier days at Sevilla but it wouldn’t be the best idea for him to reunite with the 26-year-old at the Emirates.
