According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal are set to reignite their interest in Swansea captain, Ashley Williams. Williams is set to quit the club this summer in pursuit of a new challenge and The Gunners have been interested in him for quite some time.
Williams is a center back, who could come in and replace Thomas Vermaelen, if he does decide to leave Arsenal this summer. Williams has been a very consistent defender for a Swansea side who are in the bottom half of the table.
Williams has been with the Welsh club since 2008 and helped them get promoted to the top flight of England, but seems ready to take on a new challenge. Williams came close last season to joining Arsenal, but this upcoming summer may see him make that switch.
This rumor is coming from a reliable source, The Daily Mail, so I give it a 7 out of 10 in strength.
Arsenal have had a solid center back pairing this season with Koscielny and Mertesacker, but seemed interested in bolstering the depth. Williams would bring leadership skills if he did come. He is a talented center back who can defend, especially set pieces but also can provide height in attack.
If he was to join The Emirates this summer, he would help Arsenal. This would not be an ideal signing for the club, but it would provide quality and depth to the backline. Arsenal still need to improve other areas of the pitch, but if this signing did occur, I would give it a 5 as far as helping the team.
Williams was considering a move to Arsenal last summer, but now seems determined to leave the Welsh side at season’s end. I can see Williams leaving and joining Arsenal if Vermaelen does leave, which looks likely. I give this move happening about a 65 percent chance as it depends on if Arsenal want to sign him or perhaps go for youth, like Wenger usually does.
