According to Mirror, Arsenal are leading a host of Premier League rivals, including Everton, in the pursuit of Chris Smalling. The Manchester United defender, who is currently on loan at AS Roma, has attracted the interest of several clubs across England due to his consistent displays. However, a move could only take place next summer since that’s when his existing loan spell at Roma expires.
Smalling’s resurgence at Roma
Roma was a much-maligned figure at Manchester United, along with Phil Jones. The duo was known for making frequent defensive errors and were pretty much not included in Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans. As a result, Smalling moved to AS Roma on a season-long loan deal.
Since arriving in Rome, Smalling has become an essential part of the Roma backline. His presence in the side has been critical in helping Paulo Fonseca deal with an injury crisis for most of the campaign. He has already featured in 11 league matches, during which he has also been involved in three goals.
Indeed, Smalling has built a formidable defensive partnership alongside the likes of Gianluca Mancini and Federico Fazio. The defender is even poised to return to the England national side due to his performances in Serie A.
Is Smalling the right choice for Arsenal?
Smalling’s resurgence in Serie A certainly highlights what the defender is really capable of. But, in fairness, he is not a good target for Arsenal, who require a more technical defender. This is mainly because the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis have failed to ease the club’s build-up from the back and have often given possession away to the opposition.
Smalling, to that end, is not the most proficient when it comes to building the ball out from the back. He can only serve as an alternative for Sokratis/David Luiz or even a replacement for Shkodran Mustafi. Not to mention, Arsenal can’t sign him until next summer, when the arrival of William Saliba will already boost them.
Hence, the Gunners should turn their focus onto other defensive targets, preferably a technically gifted one. Caglar Soyuncu, for example, might not be a bad option as the Turkish defender has the ability to find passes out from the back. He can also add some solidity at the back with his defensive work-rate and fighting spirit – making him an ideal target for the Gunners.
