It says quite a bit about not solely the expertise however the depth of this Arsenal squad that even some of the adorned footballers of the fashionable period wouldn’t be welcomed to the Emirates Stadium today. No less than, by a former Gunners favorite that’s.
Mikel Arteta has maybe probably the most full, well-rounded full-back within the sport at his disposal in Ben White, performing each his defensive and his attacking roles with aplomb whereas embracing his duties as an additional midfielder when in possession.
On the uncommon events when White just isn’t obtainable, the Arsenal boss can flip to the ever-reliable Takehiro Tomiyasu. There’s additionally Jurrien Timber to return again, in coaching once more after months on the sidelines.
HITC understands that The Gunners – alongside Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool and Man United – are watching Joshua Kimmich’s state of affairs carefully. The Bayern Munich ace is because of turn into a free-agent in 2025, and will due to this fact be obtainable for a snip of a price at £25 million (The Mirror).
Perry Groves, nevertheless, feels Arsenal’s summer season funds could be higher spent elsewhere.
Arsenal face Bayern Munich and Joshua Kimmich tonight
“(Kimmich) can go in that inverted right-back function like (Oleksandr) Zinchenko does. However we’ve got Tomiyasu, Ben White, who has been one among Arsenal’s gamers of the season,” a two-time First Division champion with Arsenal, tells talkSPORT (9 April, 1pm).
“(White) has been excellent. That hyperlink he has with (Bukayo) Saka on the right-hand aspect, and his defending one-v-one… He’s one of many few full-backs who presses and really stops the crosses.
“Kimmich, yeah you need as many high quality gamers as potential. However no, (we don’t must signal him) in any respect.”
Out there for a discount £25 million
The eight-time Bundesliga winner is, after all, not simply a right-back. 29-year-old Kimmich has made a lot of his near-400 Bayern appearances as a midfielder, and there could also be house in Arsenal’s roster for a brand new deep-lying playmaker amid doubts over the futures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho.
HITC understands Arsenal are watching Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. Kimmich, nevertheless, is more likely to be the most affordable of the three.
Then once more, there’s a feeling that – like many within the Bayern dressing room – Kimmich’s improvement has stalled considerably since that treble-winning 2019/20 season beneath Hansi Flick.
Although Bayern’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg conflict with Arsenal tonight – a sport he’s virtually sure to begin – will enable Arsenal followers a sneak peek at a participant who could possibly be lining up on the opposite aspect subsequent time period.
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