01 May 2023 , 19:21
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Arsenal are considering a summer move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
The former Chelsea man has impressed during his time at Selhurst Park and the Eagles may have to fend off a bid from the Gunners, who are monitoring their defensive options amid an injury crisis that has hampered their Premier League title ambitions.
Guehi moved to Palace from Chelsea for £18m in 2021 and has been a regular, also donning the armband on occasion. The centre-half penned a five-year deal, putting the south Londoners in a strong negotiating position. If they were to sell up they'd demand a hefty profit.
The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal have observed the defender as they prepare to add more depth to their squad. William Saliba has come into the starting XI this term and been a stalwart alongside Gabriel, but his injury has majorly upset the club's rhythm.
Saliba hobbled off in mid-March and has been missing since, which has coincided with Arsenal's dip in form. Rob Holding has come into the back four, but copped criticism for some of his errors, whilst his contract is up next season.
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The Frenchman will miss this week's clash against Chelsea despite the club hoping he would've recovered. Mike Arteta said: "It’s pretty similar, he’s not going to be involved tomorrow and we will have to wait until the next game to see where we are. He hasn’t improved this week at all."
Marc Guehi has continued to impress at Crystal PalaceArteta has refused to bemoan the injury to Saliba despite the north Londoners conceding eleven goals in their last four games with the Gunners having to deal with several absentees this term.
"He is a very important player but I don’t know how to quantify it," said the Spaniard. "I don’t know how to quantify Gabriel Jesus being out for four months, Eddie Nketiah for three months, Emile Smith Rowe for four and a half months, Kieran Tierney for a few weeks, Tomiyasu for three and a half months, maybe now six months. This is football."
Guehi would provide more quality for an Arsenal backline that had been amongst the best in the league before Saliba's injury. Roy Hodgson has touted the defender as a future England skipper and also added: “His maturity has impressed me. It did when he was (on loan) at Swansea and we were hoping we could sign him. Doug (Freedman) and I were watching him. He’s an intelligent player who thinks a lot about his game.”