Kimmich Would Be An Arsenal Asset Even Though It's Tired Speculation

With Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side riding high in top spot right now in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, we have clearly put last season's disappointment behind us - many in the wider world football had predicted we would either fly, and channel that disappointment into another real title challenge, or completely fall away and flop with a hangover.

After 28 games have been played this year, and we now find ourselves in the March international break, we have racked up an impressive 20 wins (one more than nearest chasers Liverpool) and we are the top scorers in the division.

To counter that slightly, we have lost one more game than third placed Manchester City and as we head towards April, we are tied on 64 points with Jurgen Klopp's side, and have a one point advantage over Pep Guardiola's even more expensively assembled side and the easiest football bets to win would not have put us above those two sides at this stage of the season.

With the March international break now in full flow though, it inevitably means a bigger return of transfer rumour mill speculation to fill the dead time in the domestic calendar and one story that has raised itself this week is our potential interest in Joshua Kimmich.

The name will be familiar to many fans, as the 29 year old is very quickly on his way to becoming a Bundesliga legend with current club Bayern Munich, not least the fact that he currently has 82 full German international caps to his name.

Whilst he is certainly not out of favour at the Allianz Arena, he has less than 18 months left on his existing deal. Reportedly talks were being held on a further extension at the club, but it is claimed that they have now stalled, and given the deadlock that has been reached, Kimmich is 'considering his options' which in turn has led to speculation that the serial title winners are now willing to cash in on him this summer, as they look towards further strengthening their squad given Bayer Leverkusen have taken a very unexpected march on the league title this year.Understandably, his pedigree and experience alone, should make him a very natural fit for the Premier League game and he would definitely have suitors.

Given the more speculative nature of this rumour, Arsenal are linked alongside some very obvious potential other destinations - namely Liverpool, Manchester City, Read Madrid and Barcelona - but during international breaks these types of links and articles become ten a penny. In some ways Gunners fans may well be surprised that Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are not involved, given the usual rumour speculation that we see.

However, the report comes from German media mainly and despite Kimmich's more defensive midfield role (as well as being able to play capably at right back), at least i my mind he would be a very worthy addition to Arteta's first team squad if the price was right when it came to his transfer fee.

There are plenty of minutes left in his playing tank at his age, and he would not be in direct competition with club record signing Declan Rice, he would allow further formation tweaks, different plans and be a different option.

There is no way that any Gooner should forget the fact either, that with a rough average age of 24 in our current squad, the fact that he could potentially come in with that kind of international experience, allied to playing his own part in winning 20 major trophies with Bayern Munich, he would also fulfil a major leadership role moving forward.

This is clearly speculation right now, but if a deal is priced right, it makes sense.