According to Marca, Arsenal have tabled an offer to sign Malang Sarr this summer. The Frenchman is currently a free agent after seeing out his contract at OGC Nice in this past season. As a result, several top clubs across Europe are looking to secure his services, with the youngster already being offered a deal by Arsenal, as well as Bundesliga giants, RB Leipzig.
Do Arsenal Need New Defenders?
Arsenal have actually fared well defensively since the start of the year. The excessive number of unforced errors and lack of discipline have decreased significantly under Mikel Arteta, whose decision to employ a three-man backline has also paid dividends.
Nevertheless, the Gunners still hope for a potential overhaul in the summer, especially with Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis facing an uncertain future at the club. Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Pablo Mari, meanwhile, have struggled with injuries while the experienced David Luiz is nearing the final phase of his career.
Sokratis, in particular, is not at all suited to Arteta’s style of play. As a result, the Spaniard has even preferred Sead Kolasinac ahead of the ex-Dortmund star in recent weeks.
There have also been times where the likes of Mustafi, Luiz and even Hector Bellerin have lacked consistency. With that in mind, it is perhaps wiser for Arsenal to sign a new defender in the summer, despite the arrival of William Saliba.
Is Malang Sarr The Right Option For Arsenal?
Since making his breakthrough in professional football during the 2016/17 campaign, Sarr has made quite an impact in Ligue 1. In fact, he has emerged as one of the league’s most consistent defenders in recent years, having already notched up over 100 appearances in the French top flight.
Sarr did have a few problems establishing himself as a first-team regular in the recently concluded campaign with OGC Nice, making only 19 appearances. But, he still played a crucial role in a season where Nice finished fifth.
Primarily known for his excellent passing, Sarr is advertised as a ball-playing centre-back. He can make short, accurate forward passes with very little fuss while the Frenchman is also capable of switching the play. He notably attained a pass completion rate of 90% during the 2019/20 campaign.
The 21-year-old is also a competitive athlete who is always up for a challenge. It should potentially make him a great leader in the future while his ball-playing qualities make him a tailor-made fit under Arteta’s system.
Moreover, the fact that Sarr is available for free bodes well for an Arsenal side struggling financially due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Hence, the Gunners should definitely go all out for the Frenchman as they look to bolster their defence this summer.
