Mikel Arteta has been urged to sign Bayer Leverkusen fullback Alex Grimaldo as a replacement for Oleksandr Zinchenko at Arsenal this summer.
The Spanish international has been one of the revelations of the season in the Bundesliga this season having arrived from Benfica, with the 28-year-old a key part of Leverkusen’s title charge.
Ten goals and 11 assists in all competitions has pushed Xabi Alonso’s side into the realm of the unthinkable, and Grimaldo has now been suggested as a potential signing for Arsenal.
Arsenal urged to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko with Alex Grimaldo
Speaking on ESPN, pundit Janusz Michallik made the suggestion that Arsenal should look to improve the left-back position in the summer, with the former USA international recommending Grimaldo.
Indeed, the FC Barcelona academy graduate has been arguably the best left-sided fullback in Europe this season, and adding a player of Grimaldo’s qualities to this Arsenal squad could be quite the marriage.
Michallik said when asked what summer business should Arsenal do later this year: “They probably need a left-back, I do think they need somebody special there because Kiwior can’t keep playing there.
“Zinchenko, I don’t know how much longer he has left, so I’m going to throw out Grimaldo from Leverkusen. He might be old at 28, but he’s incredible.”
Mikel Arteta might already have his dream left-back
It might be easy to forget, but Arsenal started this Premier League season with a new face at left-back, that being summer signing Jurrien Timber.
With an ACL injury ruling the youngster out for the majority of the year, Arteta has already been robbed of a player that might actually be the Basque coach’s dream left-back for this Arsenal team.
Although Grimaldo would be an upgrade on Zinchenko and Kiwior, it’s clear that Arteta already has a plan in store for the left-back position, that being Timber once the Dutch international is back to full fitness.
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