Arsenal signing this 27-year-old defender would boost a key position for Arteta

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Rohan Sengupta

Why Arsenal must plot a summer swoop for Martin Hinteregger

Back in November 2019, Football Insider (h/t The Sun) had claimed that Arsenal were interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger. However, no deal materialised during the January transfer window.

Martin Hinteregger, 27, signed permanently for Eintracht Frankfurt last summer after impressing in a loan move from FC Augsburg in the second half of 2018/19. He has since become a crucial part of the Frankfurt side this term, racking up 34 appearances across all competitions so far.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were dumped out of the Europa League at the hands of Olympiacos on Thursday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored late on in extra-time but it wasn’t enough as Olympiacos silenced the Emirates with a 119th-minute goal from Youssef El Arabi to take them through into the last 16. The game against the Greek giants on Thursday once again exposed the Gunners’ defensive problems this term.

Martin Hinteregger during his time with FC Augsburg. (Getty Images)
Martin Hinteregger during his time with FC Augsburg. (Getty Images)

With Arsenal conceding goals at an alarming rate, Arteta focused on reinforcing his defence in January by signing Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares from Flamengo and Southampton respectively. Despite the addition of Mari, there’s still a lack of quality and depth in that position. Arteta should add more quality to the backline after highly inconsistent performances from senior defenders like David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos this season.

Regardless of William Saliba officially joining the club from Saint-Etienne at the end of the season, the North London outfit must rekindle their interest in Martin Hinteregger when the transfer window opens in the summer.

Hinteregger has played close to 150 games in the Bundesliga, representing clubs like Borussia Monchengladbach, FC Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt. The Austrian international had made 79 league appearances for his previous club FC Augsburg before arriving at Commerzbank-Arena. He has also represented his national team 45 times, scoring four goals.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Getty Images)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. (Getty Images)

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At the age of 27, Hinteregger is operating at the peak of his powers and is perhaps at the right age to test himself in the fast-paced and physical Premier League.

He would not only enhance Arsenal’s vulnerable backline but also provide a real presence in the opposite box, as evident by his seven goals across all competitions this term. Having a goal-scoring defender would definitely be a huge plus for Arteta’s Gunners.

Verdict

Arsenal boss Arteta must make it a priority to reinforce his backline ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. And signing Hinteregger from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer would be a step in the right direction towards building a strong Gunners side next term.