Arsenal need to bolster their defensive ranks ahead of fresh departure

Arsenal need to bolster their defensive ranks ahead of fresh departure

Arsenal have had a successful summer and the additions of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette have significantly bolstered the side. However, Arsene Wenger knows there’s still work to do before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

It’s been made very clear that the focus of Arsenal’s attention during the final weeks of the campaign will be clearing the squad of players surplus to requirements rather than bringing in new faces- although there’s some real dangers at the Gunners’ activity.


Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista looks set to be on the way out, as he closes in on a return to Spanish football and a move to Valencia, and the departure of the South American leaves Arsenal relatively short at the back.

Arsenal have shone with a three-man defence since a change of tactics at the back-end of last season and it seems the Gunners are to stay with that set-up this season, after achieving relative success in the early season victories over Chelsea in the Community Shield and Leicester City in the Premier League.

The North London side have had their issues at the start of the season defensively as Laurent Koscielny remains absent through a suspension earned in the back-end of last season, why Shkodran Mustafi lacks fitness after returning late following the Confederations Cup and Per Mertesacker suffered an injury in the clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

That’s left the Gunners with just Rob Holding, who struggled against Leicester, and a Nacho Monreal who has altered his position. The departure of Gabriel means that Arsenal are left with just five central defenders options, assuming that Calum Chambers also departs as is being widely reported.

The issues go further that though as Mertesacker is in his final year, and could suffer further injury problems, and Holding is still inexperienced. Add to the fact that Koscielny is in the twilight years of his career and you’re left with a concerning prospect for Arsenal fans.

Wenger needs to make a move in the transfer market to find a replacement for Gabriel and bolster the squad depth in the Emirates Stadium, landing a top-class player who can slot into the first-choice line-up alongside Koscielny and Mustafi, potentially leading the defensive line when the former ends his spell in North London.