Why Arsenal shouldn’t commit another Luiz-like error by signing Thiago Silva
The Telegraph (h/t The Sun) have reported that Arsenal have been handed a boost as Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva is willing to take a pay cut on his £325,000-a-week wages to play in England. He will not renew his contract with the French giants
The player has made over 500 appearances for club and country but is Thiago Silva the answer to Mikel Arteta’s defensive concerns?
Should Arsenal go in pursuit of the defender?
Arsenal definitely have defensive concerns and haven’t been able to fix the issues by bringing in an experienced defender like David Luiz.
That brings a very huge concern. Silva is 35 and is clearly past his prime. Arsenal, a club that is looking to resurrect itself, would not want to commit a mistake like it did by bringing in the likes of Stephan Lichtsteiner and David Luiz.
Arsenal’s defence, year after year, has been putting up poor performances. It might be the right time that Mikel Arteta goes after younger players in their peak as the Gunners aim for revival. The fact though remains that Silva is a proliferous defender but will age help the player adapt to the Premier League in a very short span of days or weeks is a big question mark.
The Arsenal board needs to back Arteta with the finance, with the gap between the other top clubs and Arsenal widening rapidly. It is no secret that Arsenal need to bolster their defensive options but signing an aged, beyond-prime and high-waged defender might not fix their problems. This can become a problem in itself.
David Luiz has experience but wasn’t able to solve the defensive crisis for Arsenal. The North Londoners need to be cautious with a move for Silva as the move shouldn’t end up being a financial burden more than that of an asset.
The Verdict
Thiago Silva does come in with a lot of experience and league titles back in France but the question does remain in the mind of every Arsenal fan – is the 35-year-old a solution for the club’s defensive trouble.
The answer is probably quite clearly there for everyone to see and Arsenal would be nothing short of foolish if they attempt to bring in Thiago Silva. Signing him would once again signify their lack of ambition, which has been out in the air for quite a while now.
