Arsenal Left With Three Centre-Backs After Manchester City Star Rejects Them

Posted by

Nastasic turned down a move to the Emirates.

SEE ALSO: best Premier League players 2014/15

Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic rejected a deadline day move to Arsenal on Monday, leaving the North London club with just three available centre-backs, reports the Telegraph.

Following the sale of former captain Thomas Vermaelen to FC Barcelona in a £15m deal, manager Arsene Wenger was looking for recruitment at the back.

One of the Frenchman’s targets, Kostas Manolas, chose to join AS Roma from Olympiakos, whilst another, Sokratis Papastathopoulos of Borussia Dortmund, was deemed too expensive by Wenger at £16m.

As a result the Gunners were drawn towards Nastasic, but after mulling over the possibility of a switch to the Emirates Stadium the 21-year-old decided to stay with the Citizens.

It means that Wenger has been left with just three available central defenders, with first choice partnership Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker and new £16m signing Calum Chambers – who has actually only recently been converted from a right-back position.

Koscielny has suffered with Achilles problems in the past and if the France international were sidelined for any lengthy period it could cause a real problem at the back for the North London outfit.

There is every chance that left-back Nacho Monreal may have to fill in as a centre-back and fans of the club will be worried that Wenger has not bolstered his squad well enough ahead of challenges in four competitions.

Lionel Messi WAG Antonella Roccuzzo in hot pictures.

More Stories Arsenal FC Manchester City FC