Arsenal veteran's rapid decline increases the urgency to secure £25m target - opinion

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

For all of the criticism aimed at Arsenal in recent seasons about their defensive frailties, one man who could have kept his head held higher than most, is Nacho Monreal. He has been a picture of consistency since his arrival from Malaga in the winter transfer window back in 2013, but in the past year, the Spain international has endured somewhat of a dramatic decline.

Pace has never really been one of the 33-year-old’...