According to the Daily Star, Arsenal have firmed up their interest in PSG right-back Thomas Meunier, with reports claiming that the Gunners are closing in on finalising a deal for the 27-year-old Belgian international.
Daily Star understands that Arsenal are in advanced talks with the out-of-favour right-back and have a lucrative five-year deal in the pipeline for the Belgian.
Meunier, who is out of contract in the summer of 2020, is unhappy with the club’s handling of his contract situation and his lack of regular minutes have prompted him to push for a move away from the French capital. (h/t Daily Star)
The 27-year-old has also been linked with Man United and Everton in the recent past but it looks like Arsenal have leapfrogged their Premier League rivals in the queue, with reports suggesting that the Gunners are now the favourites to sign him. (h/t Daily Star)
Unai Emery signed Meunier from Belgian outfit Club Brugge back in the summer of 2016 but the Spaniard’s departure and the arrival of Thomas Tuchel have resulted in his slip down the pecking order at PSG.
Meunier was expected to play a big role for PSG after guiding Belgium to a 3rd place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last summer but he found himself playing second-fiddle to the likes of Thilo Kehrer and Dani Alves for large chunks of this past season.
The 27-year-old finished the season with 31 appearances in all competitions but started only 19 games in Ligue 1. Quite understandably, a player of his calibre deserves to play a bigger role in the squad, and with his contract expiring in about twelve month’s time, a move away from the French capital could be ideal for the Belgian.
To put things into perspective, it doesn’t require a rocket scientist to figure out that Arsenal need to bring in defensive reinforcements this summer. The Gunners are expected to work with a tight budget in the transfer window and missing out on Champions League football might force them to restrict their expenditure even more. But, they need to bring in some quality defenders by hook or by crook, especially after conceding an unimpressive 51 goals in the Premier League this past season.
Emery has constantly rotated between back-three and back-four systems since taking charge last summer but it has become more and more apparent that Arsenal do not have the personnel to play either system to good effect. The long-term injuries to Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin haven’t helped their cause, whilst Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis have been way too inconsistent and error-prone to rely upon.
Someone like Meunier would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s ranks given his ability to play as a right-back and right-wing back in back-four and back-three systems respectively. He would be a massive upgrade on someone like Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who looks more like a winger rather than a specialist full-back.
The Belgian, on the other hand, combines the virtues of an out-and-out winger and a modern-day offensive-minded full-back, meaning that he has the perfect balance in his game to shoulder attacking and defensive responsibilities effectively.
The arrival of Meunier would raise questions over the future of Bellerin at the club but it won’t be a bad idea for Arsenal to bring in another top-quality right-back in a bid to increase competition for places. Bellerin, though exciting on the attack, has had his fair share of problems defensively over the years and Meunier, who is a more dynamic full-back, would be an upgrade on him any day.
Moreover, Meunier is a much better crosser of the ball as compared to Bellerin and the Belgian is also head and shoulders above the Spaniard when it comes to dealing with the transitions in play and decision-making in crucial situations.
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Suffice to say, Arsenal need more quality at the back to challenge for silverware next term and the acquisition of Thomas Meunier would be a step in the right direction, as Unai Emery looks to overhaul the squad that he inherited from Arsene Wenger.