William Saliba has joined French side Nice on loan after a very frustrating start to his time as a Gunner.
The youngster had expected to start playing for the Gunners when he finally joined them for this season. However, Mikel Arteta has deemed him not prepared enough for the Premier League.
His move will probably not be the only outgoing from the club this month and the Star reckons that it is the start of the club’s clearance sale of their defenders between now and the summer.
Arsenal had one of the poorest defences previous to this season, and Arteta has managed to get them to improve a little.
The Gunners have landed the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and Pablo Mari within the last year, their fine performances mean that the likes of Shkodran Mustafi are unwanted players at the club right now.
After Saliba, the Gunners hope to offload Sokratis, Mustafi, David Luiz and Calum Chambers.
Sokratis, Mustafi and Chambers can leave this month, while Luiz’s contract is very unlikely to be extended.
The only worry would be if Arsenal does manage to offload all these defenders that they fail to bring in adequate replacements, it is not as if they have done a brilliant job with defenders in the transfer windows over the last few years, is it?
We have been trying to shift them in other windows and nobody wants them.
I only rate Gabriel Magalhaes and Pablo Mari as left cb, and Rob Holding as our right cb. I wouldn’t mind if Chambers stayed as our second right cb. Luiz probably will stay until summer so for now I think we have the players we need in defence. Get rid of Mustafi and Sokratis and maybe look to sign another good right side cb if Holding or Chambers doesn’t cut it. I think 4 cb’s is enough for cover, but they have to have quality as well.
Your 4 plus Luis is spot on. Luiz to be used in case of emergency only.
sokratis and Mustafic will leave on a free transfer in the summer. Only 4 more months to go before season ends
Amen to that!
Don’t forget Mavropanos is on loan and performing well in Germany.
We also have mavaropanos who is young big and powerful. I hope he is gaining good experience on loan and again will add to our young prospects that will carry the team in the future!
The jury is still out on mavropanos. He was injured again and has only played 5 times for Stuttgart. They didn’t win one game…
Admin Pat your info must be better than mine! 🤔🙄
I just checked again, he started 5 games and they won twice, once was 5-1 win against Dortmund! Oops!
Thanks Pat for checking! I think mavropanos has all the attributes to be a top centre back if he can stay healthy! At 23 he should be with this core of next generation talent we have coming through playing together forming the bond and helping to create that important spine of any team. Martenilli esr Saka Nelson Niles Tierney mavropanos nkietia? Willock?
I will not be surprise if the One Eye is wrong about Saliba, he was wrong about so many players.
1. That Holding is a first team starter
2. That Saka and Martinelli is first team starters
3. That we don’t need Willian
4. That Smith-Row is a first team starter and a 10, he originally didn’t even make the starting team of our League cup and Europa games
5. That Willock is a 8 and not a 10
6. That Willian can’t play 9
7. That Cedric is a Championship player
8. That the new reserve goalie is a League 2 player
9. He originally also didn’t believe that Dani is a first team starter
10. That Auba is not a winger, his passing accuracy is too poor be a winger
11. That we don’t need Xhaka
12. Keep Tierney at a back 3 and compromise is talent at wing back.
13. And there is more
Mari Pablo was okay in the last 3 games, but personally I think he is not slow and that the league top attackers will expose him.
The order of our central defenders so be as follow 1. Holding 2. Gabriel 3. Chambers 4. Mari 5. Saliba. We should get rid of Luiz, Mustafi and Sokratis.
I think Saliba should have started the majority of our Europa and League cup game.
Chambers can also play DM and RB.