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The Gunners have one of Premier League’s leakiest defences, conceding 37 goals thus far this season. Arsenal have conceded more goals than any other team in the top five, with Manchester United next with 35 goals conceded. The team’s defence has plenty of senior players such as Nacho Monreal, Stephan Lichsteiner, Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis Papastathopoulos. With so many defenders past their 30s, it makes the overall Arsenal defence too slow in coping with the pace of Premier League forwards.
At the same time, Arsenal's defence lacks organization. The full-backs move high up the field and often fail to return to their positions in time. This makes life much more difficult for the veteran Arsenal centre backs. The North-London team lacks a leader at the back who can command the play and organize the team. With Arsenal owners unwilling to invest much in players, Unai Emery should consider gambling the money on young Portuguese centre-back, Ruben Dias.
Benfica have been known for producing world-class talents. The likes of Bernardo Silva and Andre Gomes have their roots based in Benfica. It is a place where talented players are nurtured. Dias is certainly a young centre-back with great potential. According to WhoScored, the Portuguese has excellent passing skills which could be beneficial for the Gunners.
The 21-year-old Benfica player is likened to a young Virgil Van Dijk. During matches, he can be very vocal and strong. In addition, he possesses great leadership qualities and good organizational skills. The young defender arguably has been Benfica’s stand-out performer this season. He has made it very difficult for attackers to penetrate through the Benfica defence, which has conceded just 20 goals so far. Even though he still lacks the experience, Dias displays the right traits that are required to become a world class defender.
By playing alongside Arsenal’s veteran defenders, it can provide him with the opportunity to learn and develop the necessary skills to become a better defender. A move to Arsenal can be the perfect step for Dias. Many Portuguese players such as Bernando Silva and Ruben Navas are lighting up the Premier League and they have proved to be a success.
Dias can be the solution to Arsenal’s leaky defence. He offers real quality at the centre back position. If he were to join Arsenal, the 21-year-old defender can follow the footsteps of Tony Adams and Kolo Toure into Arsenal’s hall of fame. Unai Emery will be the perfect manager who can help him reach the top level.
