A signing that could completely put Arsenal up and above all the others in the Premier League, and a signing that could absolutely nitro boost a defense that is world-class already. Arsenal are reportedly exploring the option to sign Nottingham Forest center-back Murillo, and they are actually pursuing the Brazilian with serious intent. Murillo is also being monitored keenly by other clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea, the fellow English club. It is going to be extremely interesting to find out which club Murillo will choose, come January.
Murillo at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest really pulled off something special in the Premier League last season. Most people didnโt see it coming, as they ended up 7th, way above what anyone guessed back in August. Nuno Espirito Santo got the squad clicking, and you could see it in how they defended. The backline barely wobbled all year, and Murillo stood out. He held things together at the back more times than you can count. He was very consistent as well, adding some much-needed stability to that Forest team. The 23-year-old gradually but strongly developed into a dependable center-back for any team.
Murillo’s fit at Arsenal
Let’s be real, Murillo isn’t necessarily going to get into the Arsenal team (if the deal eventually goes through), and straightaway start every single game as the first name on the team sheet. He will have to work extremely hard for his place in the first team. And that is not because he is not good enough; Arteta wouldn’t be looking at him as an option if he wasn’t good enough in the first place. It is just that he’ll have to get through a lot of world-class superstars in order to become the first-choice center-back.
Especially in Arsenal’s case, the fact that they are massively known for their defensive abilities and their defensive stars, it will take some time for Murillo. He will have to fight for his spot and work hard in order to establish himself amongst all the other stars and make a name for himself. The likes of Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapie, and new signing Mosquera will all be ahead of him in the team sheet.
Arteta will be looking at Murillo and will be extremely clear on the fact that he is going to be a bench player. A ready-made, Premier League-proven, solid backup option for him to use. It is extremely exciting to even think about the possibility of Arsenal adding such a quality option at the back. And the fact that they already have such a great defensive setup only makes things better.
Author’s opinion
Murillo is definitely someone who has had some impressive moments in the Premier League over the years. He has greatly contributed to last season’s success for Nottingham Forest. However, it is also important to note that Forest are absolutely struggling this season, and Murillo is also part of the team. They haven’t had the best of starts to the season as they sit sixteenth in the League table. So Arsenal isn’t necessarily getting a world-class defender for their investment, but a very good back-up option. If they are clear in their preference, being only a backup option, Murillo will do just fine. However, Arsenal will also have to remember that their defense might have an overload of options.
Conclusion
When this news came up, it definitely would’ve excited the Arsenal faithful. Such a great possibility of having a quality backup option up their sleeve is going to excite anyone. However, as mentioned before, Arteta will have to keep a check on his defensive options, getting out of hand and causing an overload. Too many options are not always good. It will be interesting now to see which club Murillo is going to choose. Barcelona, Chelsea, or the Gunners?
