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Arsenal’s pursuit of bolstering their defence has been a topic of intense speculation and discussion, especially as the team looks to diversify amid a recent fall off of form.
The focus this month, if the mainstream media are to be believed, seems to be on acquiring a new defender.
On the face of it that may be a frustrating bit of news for many, after all it is the teams attack that has seriously struggled of late. But Mikel Arteta is yet to hand Reuell Walters a debut, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zincheko are injured-prone, Jurrien Timber is out for most of the season and Jakub Kiwior has to date produced inconsistent performances.
Couple that with the visible tiring of Benjamin White and it’s clear to see why the club want to protect themselves from another defensive collapse like we saw last season when William Saliba and Tomiyasu got injured.
My thought is that Arsenal should be looking for a player who can augment the team’s offensive capabilities while providing solid defensive cover. A way to do this could be by signing a more overlapping, attacking right back.
The names at the forefront of my mind are Kyle Walker-Peters and Jerome Frimpong, both of whom have attributes that could greatly help this team, with skillsets that would fit well into the current setup, whilst also adding something new.
The team’s strategy hinges on finding a player who can synergize well with Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s dynamic winger. Saka’s most impressive performances often coincide with having a supporting right-back who can overlap effectively, providing additional options in attack.
Previously, players like Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White have filled this role to varying degrees of success. Tomiyasu, in particular this season, has been effective in getting beyond Saka, creating space and opportunities. However, White seems to currently lack the pace and energy required for such a role and might be more suitable as a defensive right-back, whilst also offering top quality cover for William Saliba at the heart of defence.
Bringing in a player like Kyle Walker-Peters could offer Arsenal a new dimension in their attacking playbook. Known for his ability to provide width and pose a threat from the right, Walker-Peters also has the versatility to invert from the left-back position, potentially offering Arsenal more tactical flexibility. He’s a particularly good fit as his passing numbers are very good, averaging around 90% pass completion and 75 passes per game [FBRef].
Walker-Peters is in his early prime years, turning 27 in March. He knows the Premier League well and would be a homegrown player. These are all attractive elements to Arsenal, who have been much more strategic in recent windows.
Jerome Frimpong presents another exciting option. With a reported £35million release clause, he is an attainable target in this transfer window. His addition to the squad could be a strategic move, combining the need for defensive solidity with an enhanced attacking thrust. It is thought that Arsenal have a long-term interest in the player and have been tracking him for some time. He also fits the age profile of recent signings, having only turned 23 last month.
Frimpong has a phenomenal attacking output, and could even be used as a right winger with more defensive know-how. He’s notched five goals and six assists in 16 Bundesliga games this season.
The acquisition of either of these players would address Arsenal’s current deficiency in defensive numbers. It would not only add depth to their squad but also potentially enhance their attacking dynamics. This dual benefit could be crucial in ensuring that Arsenal remains a formidable force, both defensively resilient, safeguarding from injury issues and offensively potent. Arsenal need to be able to freshen up from the bench, as well as from the start, and a new attacking full-back would provide Arteta with a new tool to use in games where the team are struggling to break down an opposition, something that seems to be happening with more frequency of late.
Players like Kyle Walker-Peters and Jerome Frimpong are prime candidates, offering the qualities needed to complement Saka’s playing style and overall team dynamics. Their potential signing could be a significant step in Arsenal’s quest for tactical balance and diversification in their setup ahead of the second half of the season.