Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has stated that his old employers should have made a move for John Stones over the summer.
The England international rose to prominence at Everton and was one of the most coveted stars over the course of the summer transfer window.
However, Manchester City won the race for his signature and Pep Guardiola has played the gifted defender from the start in the Premier League this term.
Arsenal were in the market for a new central defender following pre-season injuries to Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker, with the Gunners splashing out to land Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia.
Keown has stated that Stones would have been an ideal addition at the Emirates Stadium and would have only cost Arsene Wenger’s men an extra £15 million.
“Arsene would have wanted him if he could have afforded him,” Keown told The Daily Mail.
“He is of the opinion that central defenders need to be technical players.
“He’s not so bothered about having giants in central defence – he’d rather have mobile, technical defenders – and is always on the lookout for a young, English centre-back.
“Would Stones have improved Arsenal’s back four? He wouldn’t have made it any worse and will no doubt have come out with the ball as he has done for City.”
Arsenal’s first-choice central defensive pairing this season looks set to be Mustafi alongside Laurent Koscielny, who has grown in stature at the North London club over the last six months.
