Arsenal is reportedly eyeing a move for Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte in the wake of Jurrien Timber’s recent injury setback. Timber suffered a serious knee injury during Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, leading to speculations about the club’s need to reinforce their defensive options.
With left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko already sidelined due to an injury and Kieran Tierney not available, Takehiro Tomiyasu had to step in as a replacement for the injured Timber. Although all three players have dealt with injuries in the past, the severity of Timber’s current situation may prompt Arsenal to explore the transfer market once again.
According to reports from Football London, Aymeric Laporte has given Mikel Arteta the green light to pursue a potential transfer. The French defender had limited game time at Manchester City last season, featuring in only 12 Premier League matches and four appearances during their successful Champions League campaign.
Furthermore, Laporte’s chances of securing regular playing time under Pep Guardiola this season seem uncertain. He remained an unused substitute in the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal and was on the pitch for only 12 minutes in their opening day victory over Burnley. With the arrival of Josko Gvardiol and the presence of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones ahead of him in the pecking order, Laporte’s minutes on the field are expected to be impacted.
Meanwhile, Arsenal faced a shortage of defensive options, prompting Thomas Partey to play as a makeshift right-back while Gabriel Magalhaes remained on the bench. However, the Gunners still possess depth in the center with William Saliba, Ben White, and Jakub Kiwior. If Laporte does join Arsenal, there is a possibility of utilizing him primarily as a left-back.
Notably, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s current manager, served as an assistant coach at Manchester City during Laporte’s initial two years at the club. The pair have spoken highly of each other in the past, with Laporte praising Arteta as a great coach and one of the best people he has met in Manchester.
Earlier in the transfer window, Laporte was already a name of interest for Arsenal. However, Manchester City’s reluctance to sell another player to a potential title rival hindered any progress. Now, with Jurrien Timber’s injury and Laporte’s availability, the prospect of this move has become increasingly intriguing.