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09th Aug 2016

Arsenal fans are getting pretty desperate in their search for a defender

Same old Arsenal, always injured.

Kevin Beirne

They say doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity, but really it’s just being an Arsenal fan.

Every new season seems to bring about the same old issues as the one that came before it.

Even though the fans appear satisfied that the holding midfielder role has been filled for now, each new transfer window sees the Gunners in need of a new striker and a new centre-back.

The latter of these two needs has been exasperated by injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista – along with a lack of match fitness of Laurent Koscielny.

Amid reports of Arsene Wenger trying to convert Francis Coquelin into a centre-back, rumours have begun swirling that Arsenal are in for a defender with an impressive trophy haul to his name. A man who starred for his country this summer at Euro 2016

We are talking, of course, about West Brom’s Jonny Evans.

West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City - Barclays Premier League

Now you might think that Arsenal fans might look poorly upon the idea of signing a Manchester United cast off who turns 29 this season for around £20m.

But such is the desperation that comes with having no fit senior centre-backs in your squad – and your regular summer target retiring – that it’s starting to sound almost plausible.

And though they may be linked with Germany’s Shkodran Mustafi, Gooners are starting to prepare for Evans’ arrival over the 24-year-old Valencia defender.

https://twitter.com/TheEnglishPele_/status/762756391031439360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Some are hedging their bets, and using the term “budget” very loosely (remember that £20m reported fee?)…

https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/762737081227632640

And others are just happy to be a part of the action…

Who knows, maybe Evans can finally bring the mettle Arsenal have been missing for years…

https://twitter.com/coqology/status/763006458451472386

Even if you don’t like Evans, don’t pretend you wouldn’t want to see this happen…

Arsenal fans were so delighted with the news that they promised not to rip a hole in the space-time continuum if Wenger pulled off a deal.

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