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Arsenal defender Sokratis wouldn’t get in any team in the Premier League - Andy Townsend
Sokratis has had a poor season in the centre of Arsenal’s defence.
Arsenal defender Sokratis has been labelled as not good enough for any team in the Premier League after a difficult season. The Gunners have struggled defensively all campaign, conceding 21 goals in the league and keeping just two clean sheets in 14 games. And their fragility in defence cost Unai Emery his job as he was dismissed on Friday.
Sokratis has played the majority of matches in central defence alongside David Luiz and failed to provide security for the overworked Bernd Leno in goal.
The Greek defender was particularly poor against Southampton last weekend, who created a number of chances before being held to a 2-2 draw.
And speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Andy Townsend was scathing in his assessment of the 31-year-old.
He said on BBC Radio Five Live: “Calum Chambers has been around long enough now for us all to have seen an improvement and there hasn’t been.
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“He might be [playing out of position], but wherever he plays, centre half, right back or centre midfield, I just don’t think he is good enough to be an Arsenal regular.
“Sokratis is nowhere near good enough to be an Arsenal regular.
“I don’t think Sokratis gets in any other Premier League team. Not one.
“Name me one you would want to swap and put him in your team.
“I can’t think of one. He takes too many chances. He has got it in him.
“Fortunately there’s been lots of players like him over the years, a centre half who risks chances and puts a week’s work at risk in a moment of madness.
“You can never stop Sokratis making mistakes. Once they have got it in them they don’t stop doing them all their lives.
“At least with David Luiz he will knock a 45-yard pass on Aubameyang’s foot, who will put it the back of the net.”
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Speaking after the match interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg said improving the defence was something he wants to sort quickly.
He said: “I think when we dominated the game, we had the possession and it wasn’t a big problem. We have a problem in transitions, and that’s what I will try to fix.
“We want to be a club that has possession and hopefully when we have the ball and the opponents don’t they can’t shoot as much.”