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Arteta has provided an injury update | AFP via Getty Images
The quality of the summer recruitment means that Arsenal don’t have a lot to do in January, which makes one big-money link a strange one.
There are few areas in Arsenal’s squad that Mikel Arteta needs to address in January but this hasn’t stopped names from being mentioned.
An offer for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has been reported with the Gunners boss looking to add elite level quality to the forward line. One position where Arteta, on the face of it, doesn’t need reinforcements is in defence with the summer signings seeing much-needed depth arriving at The Emirates. Without them, the Premier League table might look different. This hasn’t stopped reports linking Arsenal with an expensive addition to the defence.
Arsenal target Nathaniel Brown
According to Sport Bild, Arsenal are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen left-back Nathaniel Brown, the 22-year old Eintracht Frankfurt full-back who is attracting a lot of attention. Last season was Brown’s first season in the Bundesliga and early struggles have been put aside to emerge as one of the league’s most wanted players, via the league’s official website: "There were definitely lots of ups and downs, but when I look back it was a really good year. I moved here and I had a tough time at the start, but that’s all part of it. This difficult phase will help me in life and at the end of the year, I experienced a really nice phase as well."
"I felt at home here from day one, even in the phase where things weren’t really going my way. I moved here together with Can [Uzun] which helped me out, and the team really took me in, so I have found a few new friends here. The fact that the football didn’t go so well might have been down to me and the fact that I needed a bit of time. I have got past this phase now and I am quite proud of myself for that and now I am really happy."
Who misses out if Arsenal sign Nathaniel Brown
It is a link that doesn’t make much sense. Especially for £57m. With Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Shelly and Hincapie all capable of playing in the same position as Brown. The loan deal for Hincapie has an obligation to buy clause that is attached with certain conditions, but he has shown that he has the versatility to play at centre half or on the flank. The loan to buy option has reduced the risk involved and makes a permanent transfer a no-brainer for just £15m.
Arsenal didn’t waste a penny in the summer with every signing having a purpose and fitting into a bigger plan. Having four players who can play left back makes no sense financially or in terms of squad building for the Premier League or Champions League. If Brown is being watched as a possible option if one of the three players leave then it makes more sense. Until then, the money would be better spent elsewhere.
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