Three left-back options Arsenal must consider signing in January
Arsenal have resurrected their ongoing Premier League campaign to an extent. However, they are still in a transition phase under new manager Unai Emery. While some of the players have flourished right away, others have found it difficult to adapt to the new style of play which involves more pressing in the midfield and ball retention.
Even though the strikers haven’t been in goalscoring form lately, Arsenal have created a lot of chances up front. New signings Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira have hit the ground running and have been effective in central midfield.
However, the Gunners haven’t looked solid at the back. Sokratis Paspasthapoulous has shown his composure at times but Shkodran Mustafi has been the weak link at the heart of the defence. While right-back Hector Bellerin has had a decent campaign so far, Arsenal have found themselves wandering for a back-up at the left-back position.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles suffered a long-term injury on opening day against Manchester City and Sead Kolasinac is yet to regain full fitness. Nacho Monreal has been Arsenal’s first choice left-back for quite a while but he hasn’t been at the top of his game in the current season.
The fact that the Spaniard has already hit the other side of 30 should be concerning for Emery. Hence, he must add more depth to the squad in January.
Here are three left-backs Arsenal should go for in the winter transfer window.
1. Alex Sandro
The 27-year-old Brazilian, who has been valued at £52.8m, currently plies his trade for Juventus in the Serie A.
A quick, energetic and offensive-minded defender who is also a strong tackler and a good reader of the game, Alex Sandro is capable of playing anywhere along the left flank. Although he mainly features as a full-back, he can also be deployed as a wing-back and as a wide midfielder.
The former Porto man can be described as a player who is a powerful runner. He can beat opponents in one-on-one situations and is an excellent crosser of the ball.
He is currently one of the best left-backs in the world and it goes without saying that Arsenal must break the bank to sign him.
2. Danny Rose
The 28-year-old English international is one of the most familiar names in the Premier League. However, he has faced stiff competition for his place in Tottenham Hotspur’s starting XI since the rise of Ben Davies.
A pacy left-back with plenty of offensive instincts, Rose can also be deployed as a left midfielder. He is good with his tackling, blocking and interceptions and excels with his composure in crucial situations.
In the attacking third, his impact is not only limited to the flanks. Instead, Rose tends to drift inside and has the ability to link play with the attackers with his passing. The Englishman has impressive shooting prowess and can trouble the opposition goalkeeper with some powerful long-range efforts.
With Ben Davies in the mix, Tottenham shouldn’t have much of a problem if Arsenal do make a handsome offer for the Englishman.
3. Emerson Palmieri
The Italian is another one of those versatile full-backs who are capable of anywhere on the left flank. The 24-year-old made his move to Stamford Bridge from Serie A club Roma in the winter last season.
With Brazilian blood running through his veins, Emerson’s style of play is outlined by his fine technique and neat passing abilities. He is pretty decent defensively and has good awareness at the back but his offensive abilities overshadow his quality as a defender.
A good runner with the ball at his feet, he is not afraid of taking on the defenders and tends to beat them more often than not. Emerson is also a good crosser and already has 2 assists to his name in his brief Chelsea career.
However, with Marcos Alonso in the side, Emerson will find it tough to make a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge. Hence, Arsenal should look to sign him in January.
