Unai Emery has taken no time to start his transfer business at Emirates. He only took charge of the club a couple of weeks ago but has already made a couple of additions to his side this summer. But he is hardly done and continues to be linked with a number of star players from all over Europe. And the latest name on the club’s radar is Lukas Klostermann.
Having leaked 51 goals last season, the most of any club in the top-7 of the points table, Arsenal are now a defensively weak side and Emery is desperate to make as many additions as possible. While Stephan Lichtsteiner will act as a backup to Hector Bellerin at right-back, Sokratis Papastathopoulos will help improve depth in the backline. So does it make sense for Arsenal to spend on yet another defender?
Born and brought up in Herdecke, Germany, the 22-year old started his senior football career with VFL Bochum before being snapped up by RB Leipzig back in 2014. He was part of the squad that helped the Bulls up to the Bundesliga and has slowly become a mainstay in the first team, acting as the first choice right-back last season.
But he can also be as effective left-back or as a CB and is reportedly touted as a long-term replacement for Per Mertesacker, who retired from the game at the end of the previous season.
At just 22, Klostermann is a calm and composed defender, who has a natural ability to dribble past opponents even in danger areas. He is happy with the ball at his feet inside the box, as his technique, speed and vision allow him to pick the right pass more often than not. He is hard to beat in one-on-one situations and in a footrace and though needs to work on his aerial ability, is strong and can put off even the best of the strikers.
He is by no means a complete article for Arsenal to pick up but the Gunners have Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny as first choice defenders next season while Rob Holding and Calum Chambers are waiting in the wings. Hector Bellerin, Lichtsteiner, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac are options at full-back, making Klostermann an understudy at the club next season.
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But Emery is convinced that he is the right man for his side. He is a utility player many teams would love to have in their side and if Leipzig are ready to sell, signing him is a no-brainer for Arsenal.
