Unai Emery Eyeing Defensive Reinforcements In January

Unai Emery has given a nod to the board in terms of what we lack…

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has admitted that he would like a defensive addition in January amid the crisis we’re currently suffering, Sky Sports reports.

As we prepare to face Southampton this weekend with the small matter of a rather meaningless Europa League clash before then, Emery is struggling to field two defenders for the trip to the south coast.

Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi will miss the game due to suspension, though the latter did leave the field against Huddersfield in the second half with a hamstring injury.

Rob Holding is out for six to nine months with a cruciate knee ligament injury, while Dinos Mavropanos hasn’t played a minute all season due to a groin problem.

It leaves Laurent Koscielny as our only available defender for that league game, which isn’t ideal considering he’s yet to play a game for us this season.

It’s led to Emery telling the press that adding a defender in January would be ideal, though he understands that doing business in the winter window is difficult.

“I think if we can take one player to help us at centre-back, I think it’s a good option,” the Spaniard was quoted as stating.

“The transfer (window) is not easy. Koscielny is coming back and for the team it’s very important he is coming back.

“Then we are going to wait and see how Mavropanos is improving with his injuries, because he is also a centre-back who can help us.

“Another option we can play with two, with three, and (full-backs) Nacho Monreal and (Stephan) Lichtsteiner can play in this position.

“I prefer to use if we can, a specialist centre-back,” the boss added.

In what’s now a new structure at Arsenal, we can no longer direct frustrations towards the manager in terms of recruitment given his lack of involvement in that department.

It’s now up to the likes of Sven Mistlintat and Raul Sanllehi to recognise our needs alongside Emery and make a decision on if we act in the market.