Jonny Evans is linked with Arsenal since like forever now and recently Skysports reported that Arsenal have made a fresh approach in bid to land former Manchester United defender this winter.
Evans have 18 months left on his contract with the Baggies though Alan Pardew admitted uncertainty of his star defender insisting his preparation for Bromwich’s life without skipper.
“I have always thought that you would be slightly naive in your job if you didn’t try to cover all the barriers here, the options that might happen and might not happen,” said Pardew to Skysports.
“So there is a scenario that Jonny Evans might move. For sure I have looked at that.
“There is a scenario that Jonny doesn’t move. There is a scenario that someone else moves. What happens if we get another injury to let’s say Chris Brunt, then I have him, (James) Morrison and (Nacer) Chadli missing, how is that going to work?
“I have to cover all those and with [technical director] Nicky Hammond, someone I know well and who is brilliant at his job, I am pretty sure we have it all covered. If we do some business in January we will be doing it for the right reasons.”
But Do Arsenal really need Jonny Evans?
Arsenal have reams of players who can feature at heart of defence, namely:
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Rob Holding
Shkodran Mustafi
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Nacho Monreal
Mathieu Debuchy
Calum Chambers
With Per Mertesacker about to call it a day of his career at the end of this season and Mathieu Debuchy is on verge of leaving the Emirates side either this winter or by the end of this campaign. Calum Chambers doesn’t look bright with his performances as central defender where as Shkodran Mustafi is consecutively linked with Italian giants Juventus.
The experience side of Arsenal defence are struggling with sequential injuries, its necessary for some stability in the back three. The partnership of Mustafi, Koscielny and Monreal worked well until Mustafi was injured and as soon as Shkodran got back later two were sidelined. Koscielny have some Achilles problem which disturbs him repeatedly – So Jonny Evans will be someone who will bring some consistency at the back.
Youngsters Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos looks promising despite the latter only joining last week, he is highly regarded as one of the big prospects at the moment and can turn into a real beast with time.
Yes Arsenal do need one experience professional at defensive side of the game.
Jonny Evans is someone capable of playing at top end of the Premier League. He is familiar to English pace and is already one of the best center-back in the Premier League. In Jonny Evans, Arsenal would get someone who is exceptionally good at interceptions and can defy the pace of the game in minimum touches. Jonny can keep the ball at his feet and doesn’t cost £75 odd millions like Virgil Van Dijk.
Sir Alex Ferguson highly rated Jonny Evans at his time at Old Trafford and even kept Evans over Barcelona’s Gerard Pique.
That shows Jonny Evans is the real deal, and has been the best performer since his arrival at West Bromwich Albion. He deserves to play at top level with a top club.
Considering a short-term reinforcement to get the defence right, Jonny Evans seems the right man Arsenal have to go for.
