Toulouse FC and Ivory Coast right back Serge Aurier admitted today that talks existed at one point with Arsenal regarding a move to North London, but apparently that's as far as it got with the two parties:
RT @GFN_France: Serge Aurier confirms to @le10sport that he had talks with Arsenal about a transfer. More to follow. #AFC #ToulouseFC
— Eurosport Transfers (@eurosportmoves) July 21, 2014
As we all know, Arsene Wenger opted to sign Newcastle right back Mathieu Debuchy last week as Bacary Sagna's replacement, which makes sense from a transition and timing standpoint - not to mention talent. If Wenger truly, absolutely believes in Carl Jenkinson's or Hector Bellerin's long-term future at Arsenal as right backs, then signing a 21-year old Aurier this summer forces one (or both) of the two current, young squad members to look outside the club for playing opportunities.
Then there's the whole aspect of Aurier's footballing traits that would be a constant worry. It's easy to see how his ability to supplement the attack from the flank position deadly accurate crosses would be a good thing for players like Olivier Giroud.
However, he'd expose our right side of the pitch on a regular basis due to his forward bombardment from a deep position. Coupled with that, Arsenal don't currently employ a true holding midfielder, and Liverpool and Chelsea exposed the space our wide backs left behind as they pushed up to provide attacking support during their respective thrashings last season.
Considering the impact those matches had to our season last season, the lessons learned from them, and the club's vision for the future at that position, it's little shock that Arsenal decided to go in another direction this summer.