Arsenal Transfer Update: A Center Back Could Come on Loan

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been searching for a center back this month, and as the January transfer window is coming to a close he has yet to find one. Arsenal are in desperate need of reinforcements in the center of defence with two of their four senior center back options out with injuries and a congested fixture scheduled.

Wenger said last week that he had yet to find any luck in his search and spoke about a particular type of player he wanted to sign. Now, however, is no time to be picky. With the transfer window nearing its end, Arsenal don’t have a lot to choose from.

The Arsenal manager is trying to bring in a defensive reinforcement before the transfer window closes at the end of January, while Thomas Vermaelen recovers from his Achilles problem that was operated on earlier this month.

Wenger admits that signing a center back on loan may be the “best solution." This may not be what Arsenal fans want to hear, but there is wisdom in this approach.

If they were to sign another defender, with Sebastien Squillaci expected to be fit in a week and Vermaelen expected to return to fitness in four or five weeks, they would be left with five center backs. Even in a side that rotates as much as Wenger rotates Arsenal, having five center backs would likely leave one with less than suitable playing time.

A permanent addition would likely result in selling one of our center backs in the summer.
 
Wenger has insisted that any acquisition would act as cover for Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny and Squillaci, so, he argues, a temporary move may be the most suitable solution to Arsenal’s current predicament.
 
“Basically," he says, “that would be the best solution for us, because what do you do with five center backs?” 

If that is what he feels he has to do, he should do it quickly. There are definitely merits to this approach, but I think the most important thing for Arsenal right now is to sure up the center back position with some much needed cover.

What do you think of this solution?