The unreliable fitness levels of Arsenal’s left-back options this season could force them into the transfer market this January, but who could they look to sign?
Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles haven’t all been fit at the same time at any point so far this campaign.
First, Monreal and Kolasinac were out, then Maitland-Niles suffered a fracture and Stephan Lichtsteiner had to fill in. Then Monreal returned for a while before he and Kolasinac both suffered hamstring injuries at the same time. Kolasinac has returned, but Monreal’s return date just keeps being pushed back every time Arsenal discuss it.
Rumours at the start of the summer suggested Sven Mislintat was interested in a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a holding midfielder and a left-back in the window. He signed three of the four, but the club made no headway on the left-hand side.
It’s hard to argue the injury situation is going to make Arsenal any less likely to go back again this winter. Let’s have a look at who the media believe are on Mislintat’s shortlist.
4Kenedy
- Age: 22
- Current club: Newcastle United (on loan from Chelsea)
- Contract until: 2020
- Market value: £9m
Kenedy has mostly played in left-midfield since joining Newcastle United, but in the past, he made most of his appearances at left wing-back or left-back for Chelsea. That could help him fit in at Arsenal, as the club tend to use full-backs that like to get forward, and have used wing-backs on one or two occasions under Unai Emery.
The Brazilian is currently on loan at Newcastle United, but he has less than two years left on his parent club’s contract this summer. He has one goal and one assist in 12 games so far during his second loan spell with Newcastle.
If Sarri can’t offer him game time, as he clearly couldn’t this season, Kenedy might try and force a move away.
According to reports from the Mirror earlier this year, Arsenal are interested in the 22-year-old, and they join Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in chasing his signature.
Click ‘Next’ for more Arsenal-linked left-backs ahead of the January transfer window