Tag Archives: Joseph Yobo

34 Year Old Arsenal Target: “Arsene Wenger Admires Me”

Veteran Arsenal target Joseph Yobo has admitted that he knows Arsene Wenger admires him as a player, as reported by the Daily Star.

However, he has revealed that he is unaware of any interest in him from the club themselves, and has said that he has had no contact with anybody at the club.

He said: “I read Arsenal was interested in me, it was news to me. There is no formal contact with anybody.

“I know Arsene Wenger admires me a lot and wanted me to replace Sol Campbell some years ago, but Everton blocked the move.

“He wanted me to partner Kolo Toure in defence; I was younger then.

“If negotiations are taking place, I am not aware, maybe the club is speaking with my agent.”

 

The former Everton defender has been identified as one of many possible targets for the Gunners, after a series of defensive injuries threatened to shatter their back line.

The north London club were already lacking in defenders before the season began, with the likes of Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal expected to fill in at centre back.

Arsenal have also seen Mathieu Debuchy suffer an injury that is expected to keep him out of action for three months.

Chambers, who was expected to back up Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny at centre back, has been forced to fill in on the right.

Arsenal To Solve Defensive Crisis By Turning To Veteran Defensive Duo – reports

Arsenal are looking to deal with a defensive crisis that has seen them lose several key players in their side to injury, by signing former Everton and West Brom central defenders Joseph Yobo and Diego Lugano, who are both available as free agents, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Manager Arsene Wenger is keen to add new players to help with his lack of defenders, a situation that has come about due to injuries suffered by the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy. Debuchy picked up his injury during the north London club’s clash with Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend.

Despite the transfer window having closed, the club can still sign free agents for a period of time. Two of those who are available are Yobo and Lugano, who have previous Premier League experience.

Despite this, Wenger has been saying publicly that he does not want to sign a new defender, preferring to turn to youth instead, but the reality is that he might yet sign a player on a free transfer.