Aston Villa have left Arsenal fans aghast at their own problems in defence after blowing nearly £50million on three centre-backs this summer.
Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings has been joined by Bjorn Engels as Dean Smith continues to bolster his back line after winning promotion to the Premier League last season.
Aston Villa confirmed the signing on Tuesday evening, signing the Centre-back from French side Reims for an undisclosed fee.
However, there may be discomfort over the lack of business from the Gunners in the transfer window from one of the new recruits at Villa Park.
Back in January, the six-foot-four Belgian spoke of his desire to become an Arsenal player.
At the time he was an Olympiacos player on loan with Reims in Ligue 1. The French club later triggered a purchase clause in March.
Speaking to L'Equipe , Engels professed his affection for the north London club, and an impressive spell in the Premier League for Villa could help to make his dreams a reality some day.
However, despite growing up with pictures of Thierry Henry on his bedroom wall, he accepts he still has some way to go before he is good enough to play for his boyhood team.
"Not right now, but if my level continues to rise, it will come," he said.
"I've been there a couple of times in the past, maybe next time is the right one. Arsenal? It would be a dream."
He also joked that he could never play for Manchester United not only due to his links to the Gunners but because his wife is a Liverpool fan.
With Laurent Koscielny seemingly forcing his way out of Arsenal this summer, and Shkodran Mustafi one of the defenders the club wishes to sell, Villa could provide Engels with the opportunity he has always craved.
All going well, by next summer he could find himself on Unai Emery's radar.
