Arsenal sit at the top of the Premier League with 70 points as they prepare for a massive title showdown against Manchester City this Sunday. The Gunners recently booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals after a gritty 0-0 draw at the Emirates saw them through 1-0 on aggregate against Sporting CP.
Even with that European success, Mikel Arteta is under pressure following a tough 2-1 loss to Bournemouth and major injury worries for Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. The North London club have to find a way to stay top of the pile while managing the heavy workload of a double trophy hunt in these final weeks.
Italian defender attracts English interest
Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport claim Arsenal have made Marco Palestra a top priority to bolster their defence for next season. The 21-year-old right-back has spent the year on loan at Cagliari, where he played 31 matches and chipped in with a goal and four assists. While he is set to return to Atalanta this summer, the Gunners seem willing to pay over €40 million to bring the Italian international to London.
Manchester City are also keeping tabs on him, setting the stage for a bidding war between the two title contenders. Palestra has recorded a solid 83% pass completion rate and wins roughly half of his aerial duels in Sardinia. With Liverpool and Tottenham also linked, the defender will likely have plenty of Premier League options when the window opens.
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Could Palestra take Ben White’s spot for Arsenal?
Bringing in Marco Palestra naturally brings up questions about where he fits in, but he has the kind of versatility that Mikel Arteta looks for in a full-back. Ben White has done a great job since moving to right-back, but Palestra has the outright pace and overlapping instincts of a natural specialist.
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He can play as a wing-back or a standard defender, allowing Arsenal to change systems during a game without losing their shape. Although €40 million is a lot of money for a young player, the fact that he wins 3.2 fouls per game shows a level of grit that should translate well to the Premier League. He looks like an ideal long-term successor who can keep the current starters on their toes. Adding a talent with this much upside would give Arsenal the depth they need to keep fighting for major trophies.
