Arsenal have targeted Swansea captain Ashley Williams, with Arsene Wenger losing faith in his first choice partnership of Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker, according to the Guardian.
Wenger has identified the Wales captain as someone with the leadership qualities to control and organise Arsenal's defence the way it was when the club built a large part of their success on having a dominant defence.
Arsenal face competition for the 28-year-old Williams from Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers also eyeing up the centre half, with who he worked with at Swansea.
Williams has been an integral part of Swansea's success since joining from Stockport County in the Roberto Martínez era, establishing himself over the past five years as a key figure in defence.
Wenger had already made up his mind that he needed a new centre-half well before the north London derby and, ideally, wanted to bring in someone in January.
Williams, stands out as a strong figure in the dressing room who will lead by example. Something that Arsene Wenger rates highly as he looks to once and for all end his defensive crisis.
Source: DSG
