Six Cut-Price Options to Bolster Arsenal's Shaky Defence in January

The likes of Sami Khedira and William Carvalho have been linked with the club, but if Wenger wants somebody who will not need time to adapt to the league and will be available at a snip, here are six Premier League targets he could consider.

Arsene Wenger's blatant disregard for his side's defence is now something that is beyond a joke for Gunners fans.

The injury crisis that they are just starting to recover from shows how paper thin their squad is and surely the Frenchman will realise the need to reinforce his side in January.

The likes of Sami Khedira and William Carvalho have been linked with the club, but if Wenger wants somebody who will not need time to adapt to the league and will be available at a snip, here are six Premier League targets he could consider.

6. Youssouf Mulumbu

At the age of 27, Mulumbu has almost 200 Premier League appearances to his name and is coming into the prime of his career.

He has been linked with Arsenal in the past and though things did not materialise then, that is not to say that the move is still off.

Arsenal have clearly lacked a player who operates in a primarily defensive midfield role all season and Wenger would be foolish to approach January without looking at somebody to fulfil this position.

5. Morgan Schneiderlin

Schneiderlin almost left Southampton in the summer along with Callum Chambers, Adam Lallala, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert.

After protracted negotiations he decided to stay with the club and has achieved more than any of those who departed before the beginning of the season.

He is criminally underrated and his work in the centre of midfield is some of the best in the Premier League. It is no coincidence that Manchester City only managed to score three goals after he left the pitch last weekend.

And not only this, he is French, relatively young and has a keen eye for a pass. Three things that will definitely improve his standing with Wenger.

4. Cheick Tiote

Two seasons ago it almost seemed inevitable that Tiote would move to a bigger club than Newcastle. Partnered with Yohan Cabaye in the middle of the park, Newcastle had one of the most balanced midfields in the Premier League.

Since then though, the Ivorian destroyer's form dropped slightly and the interest from other sides has cooled.

A move to a Champions League club such as Arsenal could be just the thing to rejuvenate his career, however.

At his best, Tiote is capable of breaking up the attacking play of the best sides in the country.

3. Winston Reid

Winston Reid is one of those defenders whose good work almost goes under the radar despite his brilliant work week in, week out.

Nevertheless, the New Zealand captain is starting to make a name for himself in the Premier League since joining West Ham in 2010.

He has been linked with a host of Champions League clubs in recent times and would provide a good defensive option for Wenger when an almost inevitable injury crisis rears its head once more.

2. Jose Fonte

Southampton's defensive partnership of Fonte and Dejan Lovren deservedly received plaudits last season for their solidity at the back.

So much so that Liverpool were prepared to shell out as much as £20m for Lovren in the summer.

Since then, however, it has quickly become apparent that the man with the defensive nous was in fact Fonte.

While the Portuguese defender has once again thrived in a pairing with Toby Alderweireld, Lovren has floundered at Liverpool and has rightly been criticised for some awful performances.

Fonte is a player that is greater than the sum of his parts and would be a great addition to any Premier League defence.

1. Lee Cattermole

A controversial choice no doubt, but Lee Cattermole has been brilliant at Sunderland since Gus Poyet took over as manager of the club.

His reputation for being a hard man who isn't actually very good at playing is perhaps unfair, though undoubtedly his main talent is breaking up play and winning back possession of the ball.

Although most will argue that he is not an 'Arsenal style' player, he would certainly be capable of doing the dirty work that the rest of Wenger's side has avoided this season.

A controversial choice no doubt, but Lee Cattermole has been brilliant at Sunderland since Gus Poyet took over as manager of the club.

His reputation for being a hard man who isn't actually very good at playing is perhaps unfair, though undoubtedly his main talent is breaking up play and winning back possession of the ball.

Although most will argue that he is not an 'Arsenal style' player, he would certainly be capable of doing the dirty work that the rest of Wenger's side has avoided this season.

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