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Liverpool legend John Barnes says he ‘wouldn’t be worried about Houssem Aouar’ if he was in charge of Arsenal and admit that Thomas Partey could be the solution to their defensive problems.
Mikel Arteta is on the hunt for a midfielder to strengthen his options in the center of the park, with Aouar and Partey being the two most closely linked players.
However, Lyon have reportedly confirmed that Aouar will not be leaving the club this summer.
French club president Jean-Michel Aulas admitted earlier this week that the Gunners were struggling to get closer to their £ 46 million valuation of the 22-year-old playmaker.
Meanwhile, Partey has been a long-term target for Arsenal, and despite the midfielder Atletico Madrid is reportedly interested in a move to Emirates Stadium and insists that its £ 45m release clause must be paid in full, which the Gunners have so far failed to do.
Barnes believes Arsenal should prioritize strengthening their defense before attacking, and suggests that the combative Partey could be the answer to their problems.
“If I were Arsenal or Mikel Arteta, I wouldn’t be worried about Houssem Aouar, I’d be looking at my defense,” Barnes told BonusCodeBets.
“Arsenal need more defenders and quality. It is not in the attack where they need to strengthen themselves, their attackers are good. Once you get to Arsenal four behind you can really give them trouble and that has been their problem for a while.
“You compare them to Liverpool, whose midfield three supports the defense, thereby allowing all three forwards to prosper.
“That is the difference, working as a cohesive team with and without the ball. Many of the great teams need quality defensive players and not just exciting attacking talents.
“They are linked to Thomas Partey, who is a good defensive midfielder with a lot of powers that could really help Arsenal, he could be the solution they need to stop conceding so many goals, especially away from home.”
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