Arsenal’s summer plans have taken an urgent turn after serious fitness concerns revealed the need for greater defensive cover.
The Gunners have been mulling changes at right-back, including the possibility of offloading Ben White, but William Saliba’s injury now makes retaining experienced options more important.
Mikel Arteta needs a defender who can protect Arsenal at center back without reducing their quality on the right.
That requirement has taken the focus off of signing a replacement for White and finding a versatile player who can cover both positions during a lengthy Premier League and Champions League campaign.
Saliba’s concerns change Arteta’s transfer priorities
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are now likely to sign a full-back while retaining White, to ensure they have enough cover in Saliba’s absence.
The club were monitoring Roma’s Wesley, Sporting CP’s Iván Fresneda, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento as possible right-back options.
However, those targets were considered potential substitutes for White.
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has emerged as a serious option as he is a natural at center back and on the right.
The situation has become very tense because the newspaper The Times reports that Saliba may need surgery on his back after he aggravated the existing problem when France lost to Spain in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Arsenal will carry out their own assessment, but he could miss out on the start of the season.
A versatile Villa defender can provide the best solution
Konsa will bring Premier League experience, positional flexibility and defensive ability in wide areas or alongside Gabriel Magalhães.
The Guardian also reported that Arsenal are monitoring the England international as they consider adding to their defense following Saliba’s retirement.
Keeping White is now the right choice. Selling him while Saliba faces a long-term absence would leave Arsenal needlessly vulnerable, especially with White able to lock down the right and central defences.
Konsa would be a great addition, but Aston Villa is unlikely to sell cheap. Arsenal should only pursue a deal for a reasonable price and avoid paying the shock money caused by Saliba’s injury.
The smartest approach is to keep White, add one versatile defender and update the squad once Saliba’s recovery timeline becomes clear. That would strengthen Arsenal immediately without creating another defensive problem later in the window.
“Here we go” for Arsenal to sign Tottenham defender, Fabrizio Romano says on morning update
