Ian Wright thinks this left-back is the next Nigel Winterburn
It promises to be a busy summer for Arsenal, as they look to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window.
In terms of performance this campaign, Unai Emery will have been hoping for better. Despite their hopes of Champions League football, they eventually finished just outside the top four, one point behind rivals Tottenham. And, although they still have a Europa League final against Chelsea to play which, should they win, will see them qualify for Europe’s premier club competition through the back door, the Gunners’ playing squad is in dire need of improvement.
Former Arsenal striker and club legend Ian Wright has had his say on who he thinks Emery and the board should look to bring in, naming Ben Chilwell, Nicolas Pépé and Youri Tielemans as his suggested arrivals. We don’t have a source to suggest any deals are imminent but does Wrighty have a point?
Whilst Pépé and Tielemans would both be impressive signings, it would be the addition of Chilwell that would do the most to boost this Arsenal side.
At the moment, the London outfit do not have fantastic options on the left side of their defence. Since his arrival from Schalke in 2017, Sead Kolasinac has been inconsistent at best and does not fill anyone with much confidence. And, whilst Nacho Monreal has been a brilliant servant for Arsenal, his best years are clearly behind him at the age of 33. The fact that he started just 18 Premier League games last season due to several injuries only proves that point.
As such, the signing of Chilwell would be huge. Since breaking into the Leicester City side at the start of the 2017-18 season, the 22-year-old has made the left-back position his own, making Premier League winner Christian Fuchs almost surplus to requirements.
Chilwell is a solid defender and is improving that side of his game every week. His true talents lie going forward, however. Never afraid to take players on, his crossing ability coupled with high-quality finishing from both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks like a match made in heaven. With Chilwell pinging them in, you’d expect Yo-Pierre to be odds on with William Hill to win that Golden Boot outright next season.
The Milton-Keynes born full-back is already an England international, and will likely be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet during this summer’s UEFA Nations League finals. With an already growing reputation and the potential to become a future world star, he will not come cheap, and Arsenal would certainly face competition from several of the Premier League’s top sides. Manchester City, in particular, have reportedly been monitoring Chilwell for a while.
However, should Arsenal be able to secure his signature, it would be a huge statement of intent from Emery. A couple more additions in the other areas of the side in need of an overhaul, and Chilwell could be one of the star components of a Gunners side looking to get back to the top of the Premier League, a place they feel they truly belong.
