According to Turkish Football, Arsenal are monitoring the progress of Caglar Soyuncu this season. The Leicester City defender has emerged as one of Premier League’s rising stars following a rapid rise to prominence. However, he is also courted by Manchester City while Leicester themselves have stated that they have no intention of selling their prize defender just yet.
Arsenal’s defensive woes
Arsenal were one of the busiest teams in the summer transfer market. And while they have spent a fortune on reinforcing their midfield department, the defence still remains a weakness, especially following the departures of Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal.
New signing David Luiz has failed to add any solidity at the back while Sokratis’ poor ball-playing qualities have left Arsenal totally vulnerable even during the build-up phase. Moreover, Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding have both struggled to get back in form, after initially making a strong start to the campaign.
Therefore, the Gunners are in dire need of someone who can add some protection at the back. French sensation William Saliba is due to arrive next summer. But in the meantime, the absence of a quality centre-back could potentially lead the club to miss out on the top four places this season.
Why Soyuncu can solve their defensive problems
Soyuncu endured a horrible debut campaign in the Premier League last summer, after initially arriving from SC Freiburg. But, following the departure of Harry Maguire, he has stepped up to the plate and has built a solid defensive foundation with Jonny Evans.
The Turk could be an ideal player for Arsenal as he is equipped with the ball-playing capability that could enhance Arsenal’s build-up play. Moreover, he is known for his doggedness at the back while he can also cut off the opponent’s passing lines, thanks to his excellent anticipation.
This could combine well with Sokratis or David Luiz, though the former would be a better fit alongside Soyuncu. The Leicester City star could help Arsenal in playing out from the back as well as helping Unai Emery employ a more aggressive line of defence. As a result, the Gunners would appear much more versatile in their possession-game while they can also defend better against top-class opponents.
At the same time, however, it could be a difficult task for Arsenal to sign Soyuncu, with Leicester City adamant on keeping hold of the Turkish international. A lot will depend on how much they can offer, although the club’s massive investment in the summer might financially cripple them in their bid to sign the defender in January.
