Arsenal are reportedly considering signing Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier, according to The Athletic. With Hector Bellerin eyeing a move away from the Emirates stadium, the Gunners are looking at various options for the right-back role.
Mikel Arteta is planning to strengthen a lopsided Gunners squad, who have made it a habit of only threatening the opposition defence from the left-hand side of the pitch. The presence of Kieran Tierney is the reason behind it. Arteta wants a similar type of player on the right-hand side of the defence. The club have already looked at several names across the continent.
England international Kieran Trippier is one of the names that has been recently linked with a move to Arsenal. While some fans would argue that signing the 31-year-old defender will be against the club’s approach of recruiting young players, there are many factors, which makes the decision of landing the former Tottenham man a rational one.
Arsenal make Kieran Trippier 'enquiry' but must meet Atletico Madrid release clausehttps://t.co/RHChm7kjq2 pic.twitter.com/yoWkdCsdnS
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) August 18, 2021
First of all, the full-back will come with bags of experience in an Arsenal backline which is very young. Gabriel, Ben White, and Kieran Tierney are all under 25-years of age. Having an experienced head to take instructions from will only benefit them in the short as well as long-term. Trippier has 174 Championship, 107 Premier League and 54 La Liga appearances under his belt.
The other benefit that Arsenal will derive from Trippier is his versatility to play on both the flanks as a full-back with equal effectiveness. The defender can even play as a wing-back if required. Playing under Simeone has certainly expanded his defensive prowess.
Bellerin has his heart set to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer
🔴 Hector Bellerin wants Arsenal exit
🔴 Extremely frustrated with #AFC
🔴 26yo has told Arteta + Edu
🔴 Would take pay cut to leave
🔴 Things not working for him or club
🔴 Inter talks failed, Emerson & Trippier swap ideas but nothing close
@TheAthleticUKhttps://t.co/4yELsTXI3t— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 16, 2021
The report from The Athletic also suggests that Arsenal would be willing to do a swap deal involving Hector Bellerin, with Kieran Trippier moving to Emirates. The Spaniard has no intention of continuing as an Arsenal player beyond this summer transfer window and has already informed Arteta and technical director Edu of his desire for a new adventure.
Given Bellerin is admired by Atletico coach Diego Simeone, a swap deal might become a genuine prospect for both clubs, as the window draws closer to a conclusion. Moreover, the right-back is also keen to move back to England and with United deciding not to sign him, a transfer to Arsenal might be his best chance to return to the Premier League.
Although Arsenal still have the likes of Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who all can be decent backups, none of them has convinced Arteta that they deserve to play 38 Premier League matches every season hereon.
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Also, Arteta’s decision to turn to new recruit Nuno Tavares, who is a left-back by default, when the North London outfit were trailing to newly-promoted Brentford, was a testament to Arteta’s trust in other options that were available to him.
With the transfer window’s finishing line approaching fast, clubs across Europe will be scrapping to strengthen their first-team picture and Arsenal would be looking to do the same. We will have to wait to see if the signing of Trippier will happen or the Gunners would go for someone else.
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