So William Saliba’s back finally gave way on Tuesday during the game against Spain.
Arsenal medical staff had been currently monitoring William Saliba’s back condition.
It was well reported that the Frenchman had been managing a debilitating lower back and sciatic nerve issue and had been playing with the help of pain-relief injections in recent months. Against Spain he could not take it anymore, and he is now set to go under the knife.
What is now fairly obvious is that Saliba will not be fit for the start of the season, and the type of surgery he likely needs on his lower discs could sideline him for up to 4 months. We will be lucky to see him before Christmas.
The club were already scouring world football to find someone who could cover for Saliba’s absence. Ezri Konsa’s name was the one they seemingly landed on with the Englishman able to sufficiently cover for both Saliba and Jurrien Timber, replacing Ben White. But there is another man we need to be looking at. John Stones.
Stones is a Manchester City legend. Played nearly 300 games for them. 6 league titles, 3 FA Cups, the Champions League and plenty of other minor honours. He is also closing in on 100-caps for England.
Still only 32, Stones still has plenty to give on the pitch, and he has shown that for England when called upon during this World Cup.
Questions will rightly be raised about his fitness – Stones has never played more than 30 league games for City and has played 20+ just once in the last 5. Just 36 league appearances in the last 3-years should raise a concern.
But Stones could be the perfect short-term replacement for Saliba.
We could take inspiration from PSG who only seemed to roll out Marquinhos for Champions League and big Ligue 1 fixtures. We could play Stones on a Saturday in the Premier League. He is oven ready and can perform from day one. And then keep Cristhian Mosquera for the Champions League group stages, which actually throw up easier games than the English top division.
Stones would only need to get us through to December and Saliba return. At that point, we could ease Saliba back in, playing once a week, with either Stones or Mosquera playing the other game.
The kickr is Stones is available on a free transfer. So whilst he would likely command big wages, the deal is financially doable. And offering him another 2-years of playing league title chasing football may be enough to edge Arsenal ahead of any rivals in the chase for him.
Stones for 2-years would also allow us to continue the development of Mosquera without the need to expect the 22-year-old starlet to play twice a week. In the 20-30 games we will play before Christmas, you would basically have Stones playing in half, Mosquera playing in half. Stones, at his age, would also not impact Mosquera beyond 2027.
It just feels like a sensible deal to make. And one which would be quick to do once the World Cup is over.
Keep an eye on this one…
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 