FC Barcelona linked with a shock move for Arsenal defender

Nobody saw this coming with Barcelona. However, given their track record with Arsenal, you probably should have…

Barcelona has been impressive this season on an attacking front, however, their defence could do with some improvement. Too many times this season, the Barca defenders have left Marc-Andre ter Stegen exposed, so they’re lucky the German has been in good form.

When it comes to defensive options, there are quite a few on the market. However, instead of opting for young centre backs, Barcelona have reportedly been looking into signing Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal. I mean, the tradition of signing Arsenal captains hasn’t died out. This new comes from Mundo Deportivo.

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Arsenal has had to make do without Koscielny many times due to him being injury prone, and this season is no exception. Following the injury he picked up against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League quarter-final last season, he was forced to miss the World Cup and Arsenal’s fiery start under Unai Emery.

However, there’s no denying that Arsenal looks 10x better with Koscielny on the pitch than without. He just has that ability to make Arsenal defenders tick, even on their bad days. That said, when you look deep into the factors, it’s not a surprise to see Barcelona linked with Koscielny.

He has experience of working with Samuel Umtiti, following their time together in the French national team. That said, he could really get the best out of his countryman.

I don’t think there’s any denying that Koscielny will only be a stopgap option, given his age. The 33-year-old still has oil left in the tank, but the time will soon come when Barcelona need to refill their tank.

Koscielny is yet to play a game under the new Arsenal coach Unai Emery, so it’s impossible to judge his form. However, under Arsene Wenger, he was a contender for the Gunners’ most important player, so Barcelona has that to fall back on.

Koscielny is a no-nonsense type defender, which is what Barcelona need. The Frenchman likes to do whatever is necessary in order to defend his goal, which is why he’s considered a real star. Arsenal may be reluctant to sell, but should Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi continue their form, then Barcelona could easily persuade them. I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time Barca have lured Arsenal into a transfer.

Do you think Barcelona should sign Koscielny?