It’s fair to say that Arsenal aren’t the strongest side defensively but that could soon be fixed…
Arsenal went through a rollercoaster of emotions in the 2018/19 season. They went from their infamous unbeaten streak and looking likely to get top four to falling out of the race and losing in the Europa League final late last season.
That said, Unai Emery is not the type to rest on his laurels. He spends hours each day analysing his side and pondering over the correct moves to make. However, it takes no genius to discover that Arsenal need to invest in a worthy centre back.
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There are plenty of young centre backs on the market. However, the problem which Arsenal face currently is the lack of money. Having signed William Saliba and seemingly signed Nicolas Pepe, both of which will be paid in instalments, they are struggling to find loose change.
This is why it’s good to see they have resorted to the old fashioned loan system. According to The Sun, Arsenal have enquired about the possibility of signing Juventus defender Daniele Rugani on a two-season long loan deal.
Many people take what The Sun says with a pinch of salt given they are a tabloid newspaper, and rightly so. However, the original source was Gazzetta dello Sport, which is undeniably more credible than The Sun.
Rugani is an incredible defender and he was once seen as the one to watch in Europe. Having spent six years with Juventus (two of those on loan at Empoli), the 25-year-old has flourished into an excellent defender. He made 15 appearances in Serie A last season, so he is by no means surplus to requirements at Juventus.
With Laurent Koscielny throwing a tantrum and Shkodran Mustafi being, well, Shkodran Mustafi, Arsenal could do with another defensive signing. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is their best option and Rob Holding should be fighting back from injury and ready to go again soon.
Rugani is an excellent reader of the game and he likes to play the ball out from the back. This will serve him well if he is to partner with Sokratis, since the Greece international could act as the brute enforcer, leaving Rugani to aid the midfielders.
This will serve Unai Emery’s system well, since he is renowned for playing the ball from goalkeeper to defender rather than hoofing it forward.
Do you think Arsenal should sign Daniele Rugani?