Although the Arsenal defence has been slated this season, they have only conceded 10 goals in their 11 games, which is the joint third best in the league. So where have the accusations come from? For whatever reason, a lot of people are calling for a new addition to their backline and it seems as though their wish may come true, as the Mirror are reporting that they’ve been handed the green light to sign Anderlecht centre-back Cheikhou Kouyate.
But what could he offer?
Well, he is a very different player to any that they currently hold. Rather than being a destroyer like Mertesacker or a scrappy player like Koscielny, Kouyate is a player who is composed at the back and brilliant on the ball. To compare him to a player at the top, you’d have to mention Rio Ferdinand, who has made his living being a ball-lying centre-half.
He is domineering in the air, but in a graceful way, and is intelligent off the ball. The 23-year-old has always got an eye on what’s going on around him and it shows in the way he distributes the ball.
He is a Senegal international and has vast experience with the Belgian outfit and could learn a huge amount from those already at the Emirates.
Words can only tell you so much, so watch this clip.