Perhaps it is for just such a situation as Arsenal find themselves in now, with just over a fortnight to go before the start of a brand new and crucial season and our two first choice centre backs unavailable, that Arsene Wenger has been keeping his powder dry in the transfer market.
We should soon know what our manager has up his sleeve and barring any more calamities on the injury front he should have no problem with the left side of the central defensive pairing, with Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny. But the fact that the France international star will not be ready for the start due to his extended involvement at Euro 2016 makes the news about Mertesacker’s long spell on the sidelines even more of a concern.
It should make Wenger determined to get a new player in sooner rather than later, even though he has the option of two very promising defenders in Chambers and Holding, so who do you think will be on his list? Will the boss be looking at really splashing the cash and going for someone at the top of the game, although we apparently missed the chance of challenging Bayern Munich for Mats Hummels.
Will he see a proven Premier League warrior like Ashley Williams as the ideal man to plug the gap, will he instead go for a player starring in another league or could it even be a mister versatile like Man United’s reportedly out of favour Daley Blind?
What do you think Gooners?
Bob.