Arsenal have gotten off to the worst possible start in the Premier League, and something will need to change if they’re going to have a good season.
Sadly for the Gunners, it was the same old story once again. Soft defending, poor organisation and a lack of fight cost them against Brentford.
Jamie Carragher summed it up best during his commentary on Sky last Friday.
“How would you describe Arsenal’s defending here? It’s just Arsenal. Weak, bullied. It’s men against boys. New season, same old story,” Carragher said.
And he’s right. Pablo Mari looked lost, and Ben White on his debut looked desperate for a partner who could steer him in the right direction and give him a helping hand.
Arsenal need to improve that defensive partnership, and in order to do that they may need to dip into the market for a centre-half.
Luckily for Arsenal, there’s a player out there who they were linked to earlier this year that could be the answer to their prayers, and somehow, he’s still a free agent.
We’re talking about Jerome Boateng.
The Gunners need a leader at the back. They need someone who is going to organise that backline, someone who knows how to win and someone who isn’t going to let it be ‘men against boys’ under any circumstances. Well, how about a World Cup winner with no fewer than nine league titles to his name?
Yes, Boateng is no longer in his pomp, but at the age of just 32 he’s still got a lot to give and he’s got a CV that very few players can match up with.
There may be reservations about his age, but just look at what Thiago Silva did with Chelsea last season at the age of 35, it’s just a number, and when you need a player like that, it’s something you don’t always need to consider.
He’s a leader, having captained Germany on numerous occasions, and he’s certainly got the winning mentality that Arsenal are so desperately lacking.
He’s by no means a long-term option, but if there’s any position on the pitch where you want a bit of experience and grit, then it’s at centre-half.
Boateng has everything Arsenal don’t currently have at the back. He’s a tough tackler who is never going to shirk a challenge, and you can be sure that he’s going to hold his teammates accountable when mistakes are made like we saw on Friday.
The Gunners have previously shown an interest in him, and they may be wise to attempt to bring him in between now and the end of the window, especially on a free.
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