In August 2014, Thomas Vermaelen joined Barcelona after five years at Arsenal. The confirmation of his move prompted a host of different rumours regarding his centre-back replacement. When the transfer window closed at 11pm on September 1st, Arsene Wenger had reportedly spent £82 million on the transfers of five players during that window, with Mathieu Debuchy, Alexis Sanchez, David Ospina, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck all coming aboard. However, what Wenger had not done was sign a definitive replacement for the 28-year-old Belgian international. It is argued by some Arsenal fans that this situation was adequately addressed when Wenger signed former Southampton defender Calum Chambers. This is a relatively valid point, as the 19-year-old England international’s versatility means that he can play at both right-back and centre-back (his excellent performances so far this season proves this). However, Carl Jenkinson’s season-long loan move to West Ham meant that Chambers would have to provide back-up for both the first-choice right-back Mathieu Debuchy (who replaced Bacary Sagna in the summer) and centre-back duo Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. This was a risky move. A risky move which looks to have backfired.
Inevitably, the injuries have struck and one of the victims is Debuchy, who is out until December with an ankle injury. More recently, Koscielny has been sent home from international duty by the French National Team with an Achilles problem. The 29-year-old has been reportedly struggling with the injury for several months, which makes Wenger’s refusal to sign a centre-back in the summer window all the more bizarre. As it stands, Arsenal have only one established centre-back, Per Mertesacker, available. For a club as big as we are, this is quite remarkable. And while I despise the word “crisis”, perhaps it is a suitable way of describing Arsenal’s centre-back situation. After all, how many more injuries will Arsenal’s defence endure this season?! Therefore, I believe, and I assume a majority of Arsenal fans agree, that it is imperative that a centre-back is signed in January, if Arsenal are to challenge for major honours this year.
Here are three centre-backs Arsenal could potentially target in January:
1. Aymeric Laporte
The highly-rated 20-year-old was linked with Arsenal in the summer, but opted to stay with Athletic Bilbao. The 2013/14 season was an incredibly successful one for Laporte, who made 35 appearances for Los Leones in La Liga and helped his team get into the Champions League. The Frenchman’s strongest assets are his tackling ability and his reading of the game. Much like Arsenal’s Calum Chambers, Laporte plays with experience way ahead of his years. In one of his best performances last season against Athletico Madrid, he completely dominated now-Chelsea striker Diego Costa, despite the fact Laporte picked up a yellow card very early on in the game.
There are question marks, however, about his aerial ability, an aspect Arsenal have struggled with for years, despite the fact that he is a decent height, at 6 foot tall. To be able to have any chance of signing Laporte, Arsenal must activate his £30 million release clause, which may prove to be the main stumbling block in signing the player. Press the page numbers below to see the other two players.