Paul Merson has written in The Daily Star that John Stones would have been a good signing for Arsenal.
The former Arsenal star, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that the Manchester City central defender would have fit in well at the Gunners.
However, Merson has suggested that he thinks that the chance for Arsenal to sign the 26-year-old central defender is now gone.
The England international has started to play regularly for City and appears to have re-established himself in manager Pep Guardiola’s team.
Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “John Stones has transformed Manchester City’s season and is playing himself back into the England team. His career looked finished at City when he was sitting on the bench and I really thought he needed a move.
“He would have fit in at loads of other clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea. But he chose to stay and fair play to him, he has turned things around.”
No need for John Stones at Arsenal?
Interestingly, Stones has been linked with a move to Arsenal from City in the January transfer window. The former Everton star is on the radar of the Gunners, who are keen on bringing him to the Emirates Stadium if he becomes available, according to a report in Eurosport in December.
However, the Gunners are not exactly in need of the English centre-back – who cost City £47.5 million in transfer fee when they signed him from Everton back in the summer of 2016, as reported by BBC Sport.
Gabriel, who joined Arsenal in the summer of 2020, is doing well this season, and so is Rob Holding, with David Luiz another good option for Arteta.
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