Arsenal Football Club has been linked with a move for Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte. The defender is reportedly on his way out of Man City as he seeks to get more playing time elsewhere. The 29-year-old Spaniard has seen himself drop the ranks at the Etihad, with the likes of Akanji and Ake playing more games than him. John Stones and Ruben Dias have been the two favorite center-back pairing for Guardiola. Laporte could therefore warm up to the idea of joining the Gunners, as he still has much to give as a player.
Why Arteta would like Laporte at Arsenal
Former Man City assistant manager Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Laporte. Having coached him at City, he understands the quality he holds and how much boost he can give the team. Having lost defender William Saliba to injury on the 16th of March, Arsenal experienced a drop in defensive quality. From a win percentage of 78, Arsenal dropped to a paltry 44% without him. Arsenal further conceded 1.9 goals without him, up from 0.9 when he was on the field. This was proof enough of how much they lost without the crucial defender. They lost the title, which would have been possible had he been around.
Mikel Arteta is, therefore, keen on adding quality and depth to his squad to ensure the occurrence does not repeat itself. Laporte, a treble-winner, is viewed as a quality defender who improves the defensive depth of Arsenal. He has already proven himself at club and international level and is currently wanted by other clubs. With the further arrival of Jurrien Timber, an injury will not make Arsenal’s defense prone to deadly attacks as in last season when Saliba got injured.
Man City bench – A new haven for Arsenal signings
The Citizens bench has given Mikel Arteta a haven for collecting quality players, tired of limited playing time. The manager signed Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus last summer and they have proved to pivotal additions to his side. The two played a crucial role in Arsenal’s impressive 2022/23 campaign that saw them qualify for the Champions League after a seven-year hiatus. Laporte could therefore make things even better if he can join the Gunners during the current transfer market.
