Arsenal Transfer News: Nacho Monreal Exit Muted, Thomas Vermaelen Loan Rumoured

Nacho Monreal will "resist" a move away from Arsenal in January, according to reports.

Athletic Bilbao are said to be monitoring the under-fire defender who has suffered in a makeshift centre-back role this season. Spanish publication Fichajes (h/t Metro) reports the Basque side would need to offer around £8 million for Arsene Wenger to consider letting the left-back leave at a time when his defensive numbers remain depleted.

Monreal has proven a liability in Laurent Koscielny's absence. His lack of height and physical power was exploited against Anderlecht, Swansea and Manchester United, three matches the Gunners failed to win. Although he isn't helped out by Per Mertesacker's lack of speed, Monreal's positioning leaves the team open on the break.

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Louis van Gaal recently pinpointed Monreal as Arsenal's weakness, deliberately setting his side up to attack the two centre-backs. He did so by deploying three at the back and making sure United always gave attention to Wenger's defence.

Van Gaal said, per ESPN:

"

Yes, it was a risk, but I was sure that Arsenal wants to attack and to press us, then, you know that Arsenal is giving a lot of space away. And then Mertesacker and our friend Monreal has to defend. That is why I put (Angel) Di Maria against Mertesacker and (Robin) Van Persie against Monreal, that is why I changed for (James) Wilson, more pace.

"

Paul Hayward of The Telegraph noted how Arsenal left Monreal exposed during the United tie:

"

Monreal completely alone v Rooney and Di Maria for that Man Utd counter-attack. Classic case of Arsenal chasing a goal while wide open.

— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) November 22, 2014"

The Spaniard certainly hasn't been helped by his team-mates. He averages 2.3 tackles per match, recorded by WhoScored.com, the fourth highest total of any Arsenal player this season.

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He is also third on the interceptions count with 2.8 each appearance and fourth on the side's clearance chart with 3.9 per game. It's his lapses in concentration—and Wenger's ability to amplify this by overcommitting in the opposition's half—which continues to see the Gunners' rearguard breached.

Wenger's decision not to replace Thomas Vermaelen looks to be haunting his side's chances of success, even if the Barcelona man has remained injured for the majority of the season. Mundo Deportivo (h/t Liam Prenderville of the Mirror) reports the Belgian could return to the Emirates on an emergency loan, but this makes little sense in the current situation.

Vermaelen is yet to register a competitive appearance for the Blaugrana and suffered similar problems to Monreal during his Arsenal career. He wasn't assertive enough to hold down a spot anywhere in the defence across the last couple of years and certainly isn't the answer to Wenger's injury problems.

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Lee Hurley of the Metro laments the manager's failure to bring in a dominant alternative to Vermaelen but suggests Arsenal fans should be relieved he isn't performing admirably in Catalonia:

"

While it’s never nice to see players like Vermaelen injured, it does go someway to softening the blow of losing him and leaving a massive gap on the squad to know that he wouldn’t have been able to do anything to help the club in their current predicament even if he’d stuck around.

"

Decisions certainly need to be made. Perhaps Wenger, who was linked to Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte earlier in the season, could use Monreal as a bargaining chip to secure the 20-year-old's signature.

The centre-back is an extremely self-assured player who is already showing signs of leadership at the San Mames. Wenger could significantly improve his game, like we've seen with Calum Chambers, if he takes a punt. Laporte's qualities are highlighted below:

Arsenal face the prospect of their fourth match without a win when Borussia Dortmund visit the Emirates on Wednesday.

The north London side's defence, including Monreal's, will have a major say in which way the points go. Should the 28-year-old post another below-par performance, his desire to remain in England is unlikely to matter once the January transfer window hits.