Grimandi: 'Young forwards are easier to scout than defenders'
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Arsenal’s French-based scout Giles Grimandi says that young attacking players are ‘easier to assess’ than defenders such as Real Madrid starlet Raphael Varane.
The Gunners have struggled to cope in defence this season and despite conceding just 32 goals in the league, many supporters are adamant that new defenders are exactly what the club needs.
Arsene Wenger’s side were linked with Varane before he joined Madrid from Lens in 2011, but Grimandi admits it would have been a gamble to sign a defensive player at such a young age.
“It’s easier to help a striker grow because you can ask him to do whatever he wants on the pitch and show off his talent,” Grimandi told French daily Le Parisien.
“Making a defender into a first team player takes more time because it’s a position which requires maturity, even if Raphael Varane is an exception.”
Meanwhile, defence will be key tomorrow night as Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Bayern hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg to give Wenger’s men an almost impossible task at an atmospheric Allianz Arena.
Injuries have also taken its toll on the north Londoners with Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna both ruled out of the game in Munich. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny also remains doubtful.
Grimandi you useless c**t, f**k off
@Dan: why you say that? he is a good scout who has found good players. sagna, diaby, nasri etc
The former comment is pure sh**!!!
You cant blame grimandi for our problems. its the tactics and concentration of the players that is the problem.
I like the work that Grimandi did in the past, but since few years he has been a failure in my opinion. Don’t tell me he spotted diaby or nasri. There are obviously good players. Real scounting talent is to spot unknown players like varane but truth is we missed out on many good players from the french market on recent years, shame on you grimandi !
Plzz don’t end up supplying us crap players. I’m not gonna entertain any crap player from your camp.
@Gunnerrr: You mean he failed to spot unknown players like Koscielny? And yes he did spot Diaby Nasri etc.
Not being funny or anything but we were after Varane. Grimandi knew about his talent – we probably didn’t offer the same amount as what Real Madrid did.