La Liga expert Terry Gibson believes new Real Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva would have been good enough to replace Bernd Leno at Arsenal, speaking to El Tel And Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast.
Considering Mikel Arteta’s side is joint bottom of the Premier League after three games – losing three, scoring none and conceding nine along the way – you’d be forgiven for assuming Leno would be shouldering plenty of blame following the club’s worst start to a season since the days when Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day were dominating the charts.
But if it wasn’t for the £19 million Germany international, the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea and 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City would have been even more painful.
Leno made a couple of outstanding saves as the Arsenal defence disintegrated, an outstanding reflex stop to deny Romelu Lukaku a second at the Emirates leaving even the Belgian himself open mouthed.
However, it will take more than a few man of the match performances in a thumping defeat for Leno to silence his critics, with Gibson one of many who believes Arsenal could have signed an upgrade without needing to break the bank.
Would Rui Silva walk into Arsenal’s starting XI?
“I’m surprised more clubs from the Premier League haven’t made the most of clubs in Spain needing finance,” says Gibson, the former Tottenham and Manchester United forward.
“Part of the management of being a director of football should be to look at leagues and say: ‘It’s common knowledge clubs in Spain have got salary cap issues so let’s have a look at what could be available.’
“Rui Silva went to Betis on a free. He would be good enough. Actually, I’d put him as number one at Arsenal. He’s a good goalkeeper so Betis did well to snap him up.”
A 27-year-old Portugal international who has saved six of the last ten penalties he’s faced in La Liga, Silva on a free would certainly have represented excellent value for money.
Can the same be said of £24 million Aaron Ramsdale?
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