Arsenal: Konstantinos Mavropanos should be determining factor

Arsenal seem to be gearing up for all kinds of fun summer moves, but there’s minimal chatter about the defense. Is that a sign of what’s to come?

With transfer rumors out in full force, I’ve done my fair share of scouring and Arsenal are being linked to all kinds of wonderful attacking players. Defensively, however, it’s relatively quiet. A bit of a peep from Kalidou Koulibaly, but that about covers the extent of the rumors.

Now, granted, rumors are worth literally nothing. But it has done enough to force me to consider what might happen if the defensive help that this club needs doesn’t come in the form of a new centerback.

As it stands, next year the Gunners will have two top quality defenders in Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny, who have looked shaky at times, but still boast superb individual talent, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and, the wildcard, Konstantinos Mavropanos.

To me, Chambers is Premier League caliber. He’s ready for a bigger role. He counts as a transfer already, lock it up. In that, I look at this as having two top quality defenders and one Premier League caliber defender with upside. Not such a bad gig, but again, does it inspire confidence? No.

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So then you throw in Rob Holding. Holding had his flash in the pan moments, particularly in his first season with us, but has struggled since, particularly in his positioning and decision making. But another year older and another summer under his belt may do him the world of good. I’d chalk him up as a solid rotational option with the chance to get on Chambers level if he can rediscover that initial form.

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Mavropanos is the one that I think this all hinges on. Especially if we’re sticking with the back four. I have never known a player to change the mind of Arsene Wenger, but the young Greek did when he arrived and proved that he was so worthy of his spot that a loan just wouldn’t do. He has been praised to high heaven by academy expert Jeorge Bird as well, which is the best endorsement a young man can merit.

If Mavropanos can assert himself as being on a level playing field with Rob Holding between now and the start of next season, then why not stay away from signing a new centerback? We really do have three top quality young defenders here, one of which I think has already graduated that class, and you’re never going to know just how good they are until they get a significant chance.

Plus, with the way Arsenal are setting up these days, their defense is going to hinge almost entirely on how well they can attack. That’s why these athletic centerbacks are so important, because they will be spending most of their time defending in open space and trying to shut down counters.

Honestly, I fancy Chambers in that role, as he is a one-on-one master, over some of these other guys we’re being linked to.

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I had always assumed that defensive help was on the way. But with the stock we have, so long as improvement is seen in the next half year, how much of a necessity is it really?

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