Arsenal Transfers: 5 Players Wenger Still Desperately Needs To Replace Tonight

4. Per Mertesacker

The big German might have a number of international caps under his belt and the kind of experience at the top level that made him a no-brainer addition to the Arsenal squad when he signed, but he also has the turning circle of a fairly sizable barge, and is plainly too slow and cumbersome to deal with the more fleet-footed players he faces week in and week out in the Premier League, let alone in the Champions League. Rather worryingly Mertesacker also seems to have lost his positional sense recently - an asset that slower defenders would usually be able to fall back on - which was particularly evident against Liverpool last night. The fact that Arsenal were earlier today linked with a move for Bilbao centre-half Fernando Amorebieta (source: MailOnline) suggests that Wenger is actively in the market for defensive additions, but the defender ultimately said he wants to stay in La Liga until at least the summer. Regardless of that set-back, if Arsenal want to compete at the very top this season, they need another option at the back rather than the German.
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