Arsenal: Konstantinos Mavropanos and the next big step

Arsenal’s defense is still in need of some shaping up, but with the return of Konstantinos Mavropanos on the horizon, that shaping up may be nearing.

Arsenal fans were simply over the moon with the emergence of Konstantinos Mavropanos on the defensive line last season. After giving up over 50 goals, the idea that we were getting someone that could fix that leak was enough to give any supporter the warm and fuzzies.

But it wasn’t just blind hope coupled with fabled potential that powered this yearning. It was the way that Mavropanos played. I’m not sure I have seen a defender more celebrated by fans in his debut matches than Mavropanos. Every time he touched the ball, the home fans would go wild.

And he wasn’t just winning the fans over by touching the ball, either. He was being raucously applauded every time he tackled an opposing player and, oftentimes, it wasn’t even a merited tackle, it was just because he was feeling saucy.

Which is exactly what fans love to see, after having been starved of it for so many long years of powder-puff players scared to stick a foot in and be a little nasty.

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Mavropanos’s glory was short-lived, however, due to a red card that was the culmination of his rough-housing. But it didn’t damper the enthusiasm surrounding him. When Sven Mislintat pulled out the stops to land this kid last January, the excitement was laid out, but it was Mavropanos’s ability that made him so easy to believe in.

His mystery injury has put a damper on things, but with him set to return to training at the end of this month, the damper can be lifted, because the way is paved for someone like him to come in and have the same effect that Guendouzi had on the midfield.

Notice how, after Guendouzi made his impact on the midfield, even when he was pulled out of the spectrum, the effect was still clear and present – everything was better.

I like to think that Mavropanos will have the same effect. Even if he doesn’t stick in the starting XI, just having him there, ready to take a spot if need be, will keep everyone else on their toes.

Which means that this defense may be fixed sooner than we might have thought. Why would we need a new signing if Mavopanos can fix things all by himself?