Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Petr Cech and Andy Robertson

Arsenal’s defensive frailties were there for all to see as Manchester United picked up a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium in Week 12 of the Premier League. The Gunners look hopelessly understaffed at the back, so naturally the January window will be a hotly anticipated period. All eyes will be on Arsene Wenger as he attempts to bolster his team's hapless back line.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman agrees with that standpoint, telling Sky Sports (h/t TheSportReview.com) that the Gunners are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements:

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[They need] a centre-half – you can’t go a season in the Premier League having a right-back or a left-back as a central defender.

You get injuries, I can cope with that, but you let people go and you don’t replace them – that’s strange. And then I think we need a strong holding midfield player. Jack [Wilshere] played very well there for England but is it a waste of him going forward.

"

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Luckily for the Arsenal faithful, the club have been linked with a host of defensive options ahead of the January window. Here’s the latest on a pair of players on whom Wenger is reportedly keen as he looks to get the Gunners’ season back on track.

Liverpool Join Race For Petr Cech

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The Chelsea stopper is now reportedly a target for Brendan Rodgers’ side, who will go head-to-head with the Londoners in a bid to bring the legendary keeper to Merseyside. Marc Williams of the Daily Star claims the Reds are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper after Simon Mignolet’s poor start to the campaign.

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According to Williams’ piece, Arsenal are just one of a host of teams interested in the 32-year-old, who will supposedly be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge for just £7 million in the January window. Given Cech’s quality, experience and leadership skills, that’d be a snip for a vast majority of Europe’s most illustrious names.

But Jose Mourinho insisted ahead of Chelsea’s 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion that Cech hasn’t implied he’s looking for a move:

It’s difficult to accept that is completely the case, however. Cech is an outstanding keeper but has been sitting on the bench for the vast majority of this season. Thibaut Courtois is a special talent, but Cech remains one of the Premier League’s finest. At the age 32, the Czech Republic international must feel as though he’s earned the right to play much more regularly than he's currently doing.

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Wojciech Szczesny is an improving young goalkeeper, but if Cech is available Wenger must move swiftly and install him as Arsenal’s No. 1. He has so many qualities of which this Gunners team are in short supply, and while the French boss may not be a fan of splashing out for players over the age of 30, Cech must be an exception to that principle.

Andy Robertson a £12 Million Target

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Hull City looked to have pulled off one of the signings of the summer by acquiring the services of the Scottish left-back, but such has been the quality of his early displays in the Premier League that some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on his development.

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According to Anthony Chapman of the Express, both Manchester United and Arsenal are looking at the £12 million-rated defender, and Hull boss Steve Bruce has admitted to the Richard Gibson of the Sunday People (h/t Richard Gibson of The Mirror) that “there has been one or two with phone calls asking to ‘keep me informed.’”

Truth be told, it’s little wonder given the youngster's swashbuckling forays up and down the left flank at the KC Stadium. He’s also nailed down a spot in the Scottish national team and scored an excellent goal in the recent clash against England, per ITV Football:

But it’s his tenacious defensive work and excellent crossing ability that have really caught the eye since Robertson’s move from Dundee United, and if Arsenal are serious about pursuing his signature, he’d be a fine deputy for Kieran Gibbs. There’s little denying that Robertson has plenty to learn, though, as former England defender Jamie Carragher noted:

Robertson—a young, hungry and talented defender—is exactly the kind of player Wenger should be striving to bring in as he looks to provide suitable cover for his defensive positions. Not only would he be capable of slotting seamlessly into the team should Gibbs suffer injury or suspension, but he can provide stern competition for the Arsenal No. 3, something which is currently in very short supply.