Arsenal looking at Man Utd and Chelsea center-backs to solve leaky defense

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December 12, 2018 Door Ali M.

Onderwerpe: Eric Bailly, Garth Cahill, Unai Emery, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, English Premier League

With Holding out for the rest of the season and Mustafi recently picking up a knock, things have gotten worse for the Gunners' back-four.

Saying that Arsenal's defense is leaky is an understatement. Despite the team impressing as a whole under new boss Unai Emery, their back-four has let in 20 goals, the worst out of the top five teams in the league.

To make things worse, the Gunners will be without the promising Rob Holding after the Englishman was ruled out for nine months with a serious knee injury. Mustafi also picked up a knock in the recent 1-0 win over Huddersfield while Koscielny is just returning from a long layoff, underlining the need for new defenders.

According to ESPN, Emery will look within the Premier League to solve this issue. They report that the Spaniard has his eyes on two men for the upcoming January transfer window: Eric Bailly and Gary Cahill.

Both play for direct rivals but both have fallen down the pecking order at their respective clubs. Bailly impressed in the 2-2 draw with the north Londoners at Old Trafford, but he has made only six appearances this season in the English top-flight, and only one in the Champions League.

He has endured a nightmare start to the season, but the Red Devils aren't eager to part ways with the former Villarreal man. The fact that the interested party is a direct rival makes things more complicated.

Chelsea is also stated to be unwilling to sell to a rival, but the circumstances surrounding Cahill are quite different. Once a prominent figure in their back-four, he now spends more time on the bench due to Sarri's preference for the Rudiger-Luiz partnership.

The Englishman is in the final year of his contract, which could make it difficult for the Blues to turn down an offer. However, the former Bolton is 32 and is seen as a more short-term fix than a long-term solution the 24-year-old Bailly could provide.

Regardless, Arsenal will have to make do with the defenders they have until new additions can be made. They take on Qarabag in their next game, a Europa League clash, before traveling to Southampton in the weekend.