Is Phil Jagielka the answer to Arsenal’s defensive problems?

Everton have rejected a £10million offer for England international centre-back Phil Jagielka.

Arsenal’s defensive problems have been well documented in recent years and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger sees Jagielka as the solution to his problems.

Higher

However if Wenger wants to get his man then he will have to up his bid. Wenger doesn’t like spending big but if he wants to sign quality players he will have to start making realistic bids for players.

Although I am slightly biased being a Everton fan, I would say that Jagielka is probably worth closer to £15million.

Broke

Maybe Wenger thought he could get the 28 year-old on the cheap because Everton are struggling financially. Everton do not have any money to strengthen their squad and boss David Moyes has been told he has to sell before he can buy.

However the Scot has also revealed that he would rather start the new season with the same squad as last season, than to sell one of his key players.

Hypocritical

I think after the way that Wenger has moaned about other clubs disrupting his players and putting in ‘derisory’ offers that he should think again next time he wants to make such a silly bid for an experienced Premier League player.

Mixed

As a Everton fan I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Phil Jagielka. On his day he can be one of the best defenders in the top flight. However since returning from injury the defender has made some poor mistakes.

He has became especially prone to scoring own goals and has maybe lost a yard of pace since returning from injury. I do however think that he has far more good games than he has bad. I am sure he would be a good signing for Arsenal.

Height

One thing that would concern me about Jagielka is his height. He isn’t that tall for a centre-back and a lot of the Gunners problems last season came from set-pieces. He is never going to be a towering centre-back and that is really what Arsenal need.

Alternatives

Arsenal do have other options but it seems that Wenger thinks he can get Jagielka on the cheap. I don’t think that’s going to happen so he may have to turn his attention to one of his other options.

The two defensive players who have been mentioned as potential targets are Gary Cahill and Christopher Samba. Bolton captain Cahill is valued in the region of £20million and Blackburn star Samba is believed to be rated at £18million.

I believe both players would be better signings for Arsenal. Not because I don’t rate Jagielka, I do but they are taller and in Cahill’s case younger than Jagielka. Both players have also been consistently superb for the past few seasons. I really do believe if Arsenal signed one of those centre-backs the Gunners would be a far more solid outfit at the back next season.

Tough

What all three players have in common though is that they are tough tackling defenders. They never shy away from the physical side of the game. Arsenal’s team has been seen as a soft touch in defence in recent seasons and its cost them points.

Returning

One good factor for Arsenal is that defender Thomas Vermaelen should be fully-fit next season after missing almost the whole of last season. If Arsene Wenger can sign a partner for the Belgium international then Arsenal could be a really force next season.

It remains to be seen if Phil Jagielka is the right signing for Arsenal but I think they need to signing a more domineering centre-back. This whole issue could be theoretical anyway as Phil Jagielka may not wish to leave the Toffee’s.

For now though Arsenal’s search for a new centre-back continues and it seems that Arsene Wenger is finally going to land a player to solve his defensive problems this summer.

Is Phil Jagielka the man to solve Arsenal’s defensive problems?