In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has been talking about the club’s centre-back situation, and raised the subject of the Gunners needing to decide what they are going to do with David Luiz.
What did he say?
Well, the Brazilian only has just over 12 months remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium, but has been a regular in the starting XI this season – he has been on the team-sheet for 24 of their 27 Premier League fixtures in 2019/20.
The man who cost £8m from Chelsea last summer has faced competition from the likes of Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi for a spot at the heart of the defence for the north London outfit.
Speaking to FFC about the situation, Keown said: “I still feel the manager will want to strengthen in that area. Then it’s a case of deciding if David Luiz is going to be the leader at the back. Are they going to build around him or do they want to go in a different direction?”
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What will Arteta do?
It will certainly be interesting to see.
While Luiz is a leader and does have his qualities, he has also shown his defensive weaknesses on other occasions throughout his time in the Premier League.
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Perhaps Arteta will feel that the South American could be utilised either alongside a younger centre-back with potential, or alongside a top centre-half if the Spanish manager wants to dip into the transfer market.
The fact he turns 33 years of age next month could be another factor, and with current Gunners boss preferring to use youngsters such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah in his starting XI in recent times, perhaps that is a sign that youth could be the way forward.
Speaking as an ambassador for the FA and McDonald’s Grassroot Football Awards, former England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown was launching the 2020 McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards, ran in partnership with the four UK FAs. To nominate a grassroots football club or volunteer go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards.
In other Arsenal news, Gunners fans have been reacting on Twitter after one player spoke out about his future at the Emirates…