Why Arsenal should definitely make a move for Kalidou Koulibaly
Arsenal have looked superb under Unai Emery this season with the Gunners now unbeaten in their last 22 games this season. Apart from the two opening losses against Manchester City and Chelsea respectively at the start of the season, the London club have looked a renewed side under the new manager.
There is a sense of belief and confidence around the Emirates stadium at the moment. The Gunners are also very much in contention to make the top four this season but they have an ongoing defensive crisis at the moment.
In-form defender Rob Holding picked up a bad injury which will most likely keep him out for the rest of the season. Shkodran Mustafi has also picked up an injury but the German has otherwise failed to show consistency in his displays.
Youngster Konstantinos Mavropanos is also out injured so that leaves Unai Emery with just Sokratis fit at the moment. The manager has been boosted by the return of Laurent Koscielny, who started the mid-week clash in the Europa League.
Though Koscielny has been a vital cog in this side, the Frenchman has entered the final few years of his footballing days and surely needs to be replaced soon. Emery definitely has to bring in a new centre-back when the transfer window opens in January.
The manager should consider making a move for the highly rated Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegal international has been linked with a move to Manchester United as well, with the Italian outfit rejecting a £91million bid from the Red Devils (h/t Mirror).
Arsenal should aim to beat Jose Mourinho to the signing of the Senegalese centre-back. He has been in stunning form for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season, portraying some qualities that no other central defender possesses in the world.
His towering presence often intimidates the opposition and Kouibaly has also proven to be a rock at the back. The 27-year-old is a very hard man to beat at the back and rarely does he let the attackers get the better of him.
Koulibaly is a defender who backs himself on the ball and loves to maraud forward as well. He possesses a thunderous pace for a central defender, almost as if he is a full-back. The Senegal international has averaged a pass success rate of 89% in the Serie A this season while also picking up 2 assists in that time. (Stats courtesy – Whoscored)
Surely, the Napoli defender will thrive in Unai Emery’s system at the Emirates Stadium. This will allow the defender to push forward at will and support the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners have also conceded a total of 20 goals across 16 games this season, which is the most by any team in the top 5 of the Premier League at the moment. Unai Emery must do everything to beat Manchester United to the signing of the Napoli defender.