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Arsenal Defender Heading Back To Spain?

By on November 25, 2013

A number of La Liga clubs are hoping to lure Nacho Monreal back to Spain in January, according to reports today.

The 27-year-old joined Arsenal from Malaga last winter in an £8.5m deal as we desperately needed cover for the injury-prone Kieran Gibbs.

I was impressed with how quickly he settled in at the Emirates and he never let us down in any of his 11 appearances during the second half of last season.

However, it seems Gibbsy has finally got over his injury problems which has seen him cement himself as our first choice left-back, leaving Monreal warming the bench most weeks. He has made 14 appearances this season, but the majority have come as a late substitute when Arsene is trying to see the game out.

Monreal has admitted he’s finding it tough watching on from the sidelines but insists he’s ready to fight for his place in the team, but with the World Cup on the horizon the Mirror claim Valencia, Real Sociedad and Granada are ready to try and tempt him back to Spain when the window re-opens in January.

I’d hate to see Nacho go as he’s a reliable member of the squad and he will certainly be used throughout the season, but whether playing second fiddle to Gibbs is enough for him remains to be seen.

Monreal is currently in a straight fight with Jordi Alba for the left-back shirt in the Spain team and the Barca man is odds on if he manages to shake off his injury problems. The only way Nacho will displace him is if he produces some excellent form on the pitch during the second half of the season and he won’t get that opportunity at Arsenal unless Gibbs picks up an injury or drastically loses his form over the next few months.

I still think a move in January is unlikely though as Arsene won’t agree to it even if Monreal does ask for a transfer in order to get more regular first team football. He’s a useful squad player who could make a difference for us during the title run-in and the club has to come first.

What do you think of Monreal’s situation?

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