Former Arsenal great Martin Keown has urged Gunners interim boss Freddie Ljungberg to take flop centre back David Luiz out of the team.
The Brazil international has been a spectacular failure since joining from Chelsea last summer, and Keown has said that he must be removed from the starting line-up.
“I would take David Luiz out of the team, because he’s dropping so deep,” the ex England international told talkSPORT [06/12; 10:14].
Presenter Jim White then weighed in: “Some would say kick him out the club.”
Is it ALREADY time to give Luiz the boot?
This summer signing has been an unequivocal and spectacular failure, hasn’t it? The 32-year-old was a stop-gap at best, brought in by former manager Unai Emery with the intention of shoring up the struggling Gunners backline with a bit of experience.
However, instead of going for a quality free agent like Gary Cahill for that role, Emery ended up signing a defender who can’t defend. He should have known that was the case, though, because Luiz’s shortcomings have been long-standing.
This season he is averaging one tackle, 1.4 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game [Source: WhoScored.com]. What those numbers don’t tell you, though, is how poor his positioning, discipline and decision-making have been.
Certainly he should be dropped from the starting line-up, and if Arsenal can find a buyer in January then they should undoubtedly move him on too.