Arsenal are about to splash out £25million for Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida.
Domagoj Vida has been talk of the market since his exceptional performance helping Croatia finish runners-up at the World Cup held in Russia.
Vida was strongly linked with a move to Liverpool last month followed by links with West Ham United and Wolves and recently there are reports linking the 29-year-old to Arsenal.
Yes, Arsenal do need to improve their defensive vows from last season but they do have enough quality to transform their defence into a wall. In fact loaning out Calum Chambers to Fulham was also something that could have been taken care of in better way, that guy deserves his chance with Arsenal.
Arsenal brought in experienced beast when they signed Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund. Sokratis has proved himself at the highest level for years and is someone who could single handedly organize Arsenal defence. He has not yet got his feet properly in English style of play, it will take time but one he does get settled – He is strikers worst nightmare.
Shkodran Mustafi will probably partner Sokratis as Arsenal’s first choice defensive duo. Now Mustafi will split opinions among Arsenal supporters but he has been there when Arsenal needed him. He has made those interceptions and tackles that saved Gunners many times. Mustafi may have started on the wrong foot but has looked someone reliable at the end of last campaign. Not to disagree, Shkodran has been vulnerable for a long time but has shown top class potential.
Many believe that Unai Emery is not impressed with Mustafi and is looking at Vida to take his place in the starting eleven. I still believe, “Stick with Mustafi and he would be a success story at Arsenal.”
Not to forget, Arsenal still have Laurent Koscielny who is scheduled to return in November. Once Koscielny is fit, you just cannot keep him out – That guy is a defence in himself.
Not to forget the young talents Arsenal have to nurture. Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos are still at Arsenal looking for those developing minutes. Mavropanos as well as Holding have shown their reliability. You just cannot forget the performance Mavropanos put in at Old Trafford last season. Rob Holding has lost his footing recently and needs to regain some confidence to rejuvenate his Arsenal’s starting spot.
As I mentioned earlier, Arsenal have also loaned Calum Chambers. Calum did put in commendable performances last season and deserved to fight for his place rather than going elsewhere. In fact, Chambers was believed to be the first choice Backup to Sokratis and Mustafi. Arsenal could have loaned out Rob instead of Calum but that is a whole different story.
Splashing out £25million for an aging defender, someone who has not proven himself in any of Europe’s top league seems bizarre.
Besiktas signed Vida for free from Dynamo Kyiv in January and will be keen to push the deal forward for getting in £25million of free cheque.
Rumors about Domagoj Vida joining Arsenal escalated quickly when Besiktas president Fikret Orman posted a video of himself strolling through park in London. Seemingly his presence indicating a meeting with Arsenal for Vida’s transfer.
Unai Emery have spent around £70 million recruiting reinforcements to take Arsenal back to the top. He have signed quality players in Stephan Lichtsteiner, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi but this time Unai you might just be wrong.
