Last week we spoke about how the William Saliba contract negoations could delay our defensive recruitment this summer, and that is was essential for Edu and the team to quickly get the situation resolved.
Edu must read our blogs because 48 hours after we hit publish, it was announced a new deal for Saliba.
So what do we expect to now happen?
No new central defender
Arsenal were always looking at a defensive reinforcement this summer. But just the one.
It was either someone to cover Saliba in he centre of defence, or an extra full back that would allow Ben White to play centrally if required.
The plan last season (is it now last season or still this?) was to have White as Saliba’s covver, and Takehiro Tomiyasu coming it at right back.
Saliba and Tomiyasu both getting injured at the same time led to Rob Holding coming into the centre of the defence, and the gulf in class was startling.
Holding has been a great servant to the club, but his attributes do not make him a suitable replacement for Saliba.
With Saliba’s new deal, and the recruitment of Jakub Kiwior, the plan for next season will be the same as this – White to cover Saliba.
And that will mean no new central defensive signing.
New full back
The expectation is Kieran Tierney will be sold. Tomiyasu will then become first choice cover at both right back and left back.
to then avoid being in the same situation as this season, we will look to recruit a 3rd right back into the squad (who will become 2nd choice right back if Tomiyasu is on the left).
Ivan Fresneda certainly has the attributes to be a like for like cover for White. With a reported £17m release clause, it is a deal we could get done quiet quickly.
We have also been heavily linked with Timothy Castagne. The Leicester City full back is also available at around £17m.
Castagne would bring 3 years of Premier League experience, as well as a further 3 in Serie A.
What makes Castagne attractive is his versatility.
Predominantly a right back, the Belgian has played 75 games on the left flank. His attributes are not too dissimilar to Tomiyasu, and his recruitment would see us having two full backs that are comfortable on either side.
I think at the time of writing, Castagne could be the deal that is done.
And do not forget about Declan Rice
Going into the season with 3 specialist centre backs would be a risk.
Looking at the defensive group, we would have 3 central defenders and 4 full backs, with two of those full backs able to play centrally.
And then we have Declan Rice.
Some pundits have often thought that in a better team, Rice would end up as a central defender.
Whilst I do expect we have bought him to replace Granit Xhaka further up the field, it can not be ignored that he can also play in the centre of the defence.
In an emergency, you can certainly see Rice playing in the middle of our defence and Jorginho or Emile Smith Rowe playing in the 8.
3 dedicated central defenders might feel short, but we would actual have 6 centreback options (if we sign Rice):
Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, White, Tomiyasu, Rice.
Tying up the Saliba contract so quickly is great news. It means that we now know where we are going into next season, and can accelerate or plans for defensive reinforcments.
Expect deals to happen quickly.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta are a clog of part in a fantastic tuning machine. Positions and its specific roles are innovated under Arteta. It’s so unique that a midfield specialist Zinchenko plays better at LB than an actual specialist LB Tierney. The tactic is to press, control and suffocate the opponents in their own half. Arteta might be adding more physical and technical players for these purposes. I do think we have enough CBs, thus we need an inverted RB. CDM is covered enough by 3 existing players, so more attacking or physical players are needed for both the no8s. Perhaps another physical behemoth at CF. It might not a symmetrical balance but more of control balance both sides, in defence, midfield and attack. There are no similar players to match both sides, ever. Did you know BMW M4 changed from V8 to inline6 for more power apparently? Same case.
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