Arsenal have now been gifted the chance to sign a defender, with manager Mikel Arteta known to be a keen admirer.
Arteta‘s defence looked shaky prior to the international break, with his side succumbing to a surprise 3-0 loss at Brighton, and the Spaniard was magnanimous in defeat, saying: “I think they deserve it, I think they were the better team. From our side, there were certain basics you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League that we were very far from. Winning the first duel, the second ball, that put to the game, especially how direct they were in a really difficult place for us.
“On top of that, especially in our own half, we didn’t respect any of the principles of play to get out of that man-to-man situation. That puts us on the back foot, so it was very difficult to control the game.”
However, the Gunners boss will be hoping it was just a blip, considering his side had the best defensive record in the Premier League last season, and he has since strengthened even further by bringing in Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.
|
Rank |
Team |
Goals conceded |
Clean sheets |
Goals conceded/game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Arsenal |
27 |
19 |
0.71 |
|
2 |
Man City |
35 |
16 |
0.92 |
|
3 |
Brighton |
46 |
10 |
1.21 |
|
4 |
Sunderland |
48 |
12 |
1.26 |
|
5 |
Aston Villa |
49 |
9 |
1.29 |
Having played just five games this season, it is probably a little early to start thinking about signing another defender, but the north Londoners have now been gifted a chance to sign an FC Barcelona defender.
Arsenal hold talks regarding deal for Jules Kounde
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal have now engaged in talks to sign Barcelona star Juled Kounde, having been informed about his potential availability by intermediaries, as the Spanish side are now prepared to sanction a January sale.
Kounde has played a less prominent role for the reigning La Liga champions this season, which means a move elsewhere is now on the cards, and there have been suggestions he could be available for just £45m.
However, a number of other Premier League clubs have been offered the chance to sign the 27-year-old, and a move to Chelsea is believed to appeal to him, having nearly completed a move to Stamford Bridge previously.
Barcelona won La Liga last season, and the France international played a major role, featuring 30 times in La Liga, during which time he averaged 1.2 interceptions per 90, which was the third-highest number in Hansi Flick’s squad.
Lauded as “one of the best defenders in the world” by Spanish legend Xavi, the Paris-born defender has ten goals and 22 assists to his name in 193 appearances for Barcelona, where he has regularly featured as both a right-back and centre-back, which means he could be a versatile addition to the Gunners’ backline.
Arteta is known to be a big admirer of Kounde, as a result of his ability to play in multiple positions, and at £45m, a deal would be unlikely to break the bank.