Arsenal have been linked with players mainly in the midfield and striking roles this January with Mikel Arteta wanting to add quality to his squad as the club pushes for a top-four finish this season.
However, whilst Arsenal do have needs in both areas a new link has surfaced for a different role. The Mirror reports that Arteta's side are interested in signing Middlesbrough right-back, Djed Spence. The name may stick in the mind as this is the very player currently on loan at Nottingham Forest who pocketed Gabriel Martinelli and gave the Brazilian a torrid afternoon.
The reported fee for Spence would be in the £10 million range and despite an injury to Cedric Soares against Liverpool, the move would only benefit the Gunners from this coming summer with the full-back having already played for two clubs this season.
Yet there are concerns that this could be a reactionary move based on the performance of Spence in just the one-off game. Many Arsenal supporters fell into this trap post-match in the chaotic soup of an Arsenal supporter online meltdown.
However, the Arsenal recruits of late have been very solid and the six summer singings, in particular, have all added to the quality of the group.
The problem Arsenal have is panic buying in January. Exactly like what happened, ironically in the same position, when signing Cedric. The team needed depth and instead of considering further options jumped at an easy target and client of Kia Joorabchian.
It is therefore key to do the due diligence and get further insight into Spence and find out whether the Gunners would be making another error.
Speaking to Fan Brands Content Editor for Reach and massive Middlesbrough fan Ross Jackson, it quickly became clear that from the perspective of someone who has seen plenty of Spence, Arsenal might be falling into this very trap.
“I’m not going to beat about the bush here. The last thing Arsenal want to do right now is sign Djed Spence. I can completely understand the clamour for Mikel Arteta to sign a more attack-minded right-back to offer a different type of option to Takehiro Tomiyasu, but Spence isn’t your man,” claims Jackson.
“Having been handed his chance in the Middlesbrough team by Jonathan Woodgate, Spence looked very promising, and his pace was causing Championship defences all sorts of problems.
“However, as soon as news of Tottenham’s interest in him surfaced, Boro never saw that promising player again.
“His attitude looked off and there were countless occasions when he was caught moseying back to the halfway line like he was on a lazy Sunday morning jog than actually busting a gut to help out his teammates.
“You’re probably wondering who that was who tore Gabriel Martinelli apart at the City Ground a few weeks ago if I think Spence is this bad, right? Suffice to say, I wasn’t particularly shocked to see him turn up to play a Premier League team in front of the TV cameras.
“Blistering pace will get you so far in a league like the Championship, but as soon as you step up a level you need a lot more than that.
“It’s plainly obvious that the Arsenal squad is in desperate need of both quality and character, and Spence won’t offer you either.”
A damning assessment and certainly one which would make any sceptical about the player rightfully hop off the fence onto the side of a firm, "No."
The characteristics mentioned regarding his inconsistencies and lack of application in games do not resonate with that of a Mikel Arteta style player fans have come to learn of.
Based on this judgement, it would be a signing that goes against the grain of what the Spaniard has sought in his buys. Whilst the negative view of Spence at Middlesbrough and Forest may be the case, it isn’t a guarantee that the player couldn’t however be developed to a higher standard with greater expectations.
However, Arsenal’s needs at right-back remain far from a priority and £10 million could be spent on other positions with Tomiyasu, Ben White and Calum Chambers all possible options for the hybrid right-back role Arteta has coached seem sufficient.
William Saliba’s return in the summer adds another dynamic with the Frenchman having operated on the right on more than one occasion at Marseille.
An intriguing link however one which upon reflection Arsenal should look to avoid committing to in the near future.
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