Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Undermanned Gunners Must Pursue Ashley Williams

Following news that Thomas Vermaelen will miss a significant amount of time with a back injury, Arsenal has become paper thin at the back and will need to address its lack of depth before the Premier League season begins.

According to Sky Sports' Pete O'Rourke, Vermaelen's injury could open the door for Arsenal to pursue Swansea City defender Ashley Williams this summer:

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Williams is thought to be on Arsenal's wanted list as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his defensive options, but their interest cooled due to Swansea's asking price.

However, Wenger could now be forced to push through a move for Williams amid fears that Vermaelen faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

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While Wenger obviously isn't going to get Williams for cheap, he has little choice at the moment.

As O'Rourke mentions, Arsenal is severely undermanned on the back line with Sebastien Squillaci having been released and Johan Djourou making the move to Hamburg on a loan. Squillaci, who will turn 33 in August, appeared in 22 league matches for Arsenal three seasons ago but made just one Premier League appearance over the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, Djourou has made well over 80 Premier League appearances for the Gunners but none since 2011-12.

With both out of the picture this season, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker are the only two true centre-backs Wenger will have to work with heading into the preseason.

But landing Williams would be a quick and powerful solution for what currently ails Arsenal.

Williams is in the prime of his career and has two full seasons of Premier League experience. The 28-year-old has been a consistent contributor for Swansea since the start of 2008, but the Jacks played three consecutive seasons in the Football League Championship before making the jump to the Premier League in 2011.

In two seasons on the main stage, though, Williams has done nothing but impress.

He has started 37 of the club's 38 league matches in each of the past two seasons and has emerged as one of the most talented central defenders in all of England. 

An intelligent defender with excellent anticipation, Williams is decisive and always calm on the ball. He's compiled 13 yellow cards in league play over the past two seasons but does an excellent job of picking his spots and avoiding silly mistakes.

Captain of the Wales national team and vice captain for Swansea, Williams is a tremendous leader as well and a force for good in the dressing room.

Only Manchester City conceded fewer goals than Arsenal in the Premier League last season, but Wenger knows that Vermaelen's presence had a lot to do with that. And with the Belgian veteran nursing a bad back, Arsenal must look to shore up its back line with a defensive stalwart in Ashley Williams.

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