#2 Eliaquim Mangala
I know, I know. The club cannot sign another mistake-prone defender but hear this one out. Arsenal in recent weeks seem to have a problem at the centre back position due to several injuries. This has somewhat mellowed down with the return of club captain Laurent Koscielny and Greek youngster Mavropanos.
While head of Arsenal recruitment Sven Mislintat has links to some of Europe's most promising centre-backs via Dortmund in Dan-Axel Zagadou, Diallo and Manuel Akanji, the possibility of signing any of these players in January is highly unlikely.
Gary Cahill's name has been mentioned in the rumour mill and could provide a good short term solution for the club. Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala is another interesting option.
Mangala is still only 27 years old and was once one of the most promising young defenders in world football. A loan move to Arsenal can do two things: one, a chance for the player to revive his career and two, he is available on a free transfer at the end of the season. It can be the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to take a risk and trial a player who had immense potential in the past.
Things didn't quite work out for the player in Manchester City but a loan deal for the former French U21 captain might be a gamble worth taking for Arsenal.
Published 11 Jan 2019, 23:15 IST