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In Arsenal's latest defeat against Manchester City, their defensive troubles surfaced once again. Including their 3-1 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup, an Arsenal defence that has Shkodran Mustafi has now conceded seven goals in three matches.
No defensive reinforcements arrived in January either, and maybe they need to look at bringing in some players over the summer. Unfortunately, Arsenal's current transfer policy is against heavy spending. Due to the market, it is not easy to find top defenders at an affordable price, especially for a club like Arsenal. Considering this, here are three who could fit the bill.
#1 Gary Cahill
Having fallen out of favour under Maurizio Sarri, Gary Cahill could be the answer. He was an influential figure in Chelsea's 2012 Champions League winning squad. His performances were vital in Chelsea topping their Europa League group with three clean sheets. Cahill's experience and leadership could be useful in organizing Arsenal's defence. His contract will expire this summer and is likely be available for cheap or even on a free transfer.
#2 Nicolas N'Koulou
January report states that Arsenal is targeting Torino's Nicolas N'Koulou. Unfortunately, Arsenal is limited only to add loan signings in January while the report also says that Torino wasn't prepared to lose N'Koulou at that moment. Summer window tough, Torino will reportedly drop their non-transferable stance for the Cameroonian player and opening the door to Arsenal.
N'Koulou is already becoming Torino's key defender this season, helping his club to become the fifth least conceded team in Serie A. Starting all 22 of Torino's Serie A matches, he is known for rarely making mistakes and can perform consistently, making him a perfect solution to Arsenal's error-prone defence. Arsenal can land N'Koulou in the region of €13 million, a bargain price for one of Serie A's top-rated defenders.
#3 Diego Godin
Diego Godin could be the one that Arsenal fans were waiting. Regarded by many as one of the best centre-backs in the world, Godin's presence in the defensive line will be beneficial to any teams. Godin is excellent in both aerial duels and tackling, making him an impenetrable fortress in Diego Simeone's squad.
It is no secret that Godin is the key for Atletico Madrid to becoming one of the fewest conceding teams in La Liga for many years. Currently, Godin is still refusing to extend his contract and he will be available for free in the summer. If this difficult contract situation remains, Atletico could be forced to sell Godin for cheap.
