Arsenal: Konstantinos Mavropanos the must-play prospect

Arsenal are in the midst of a centre-back crisis with only two fit starters currently available for selection. That makes Konstantinos Mavropanos a must-play prospect, for more reasons than one.

When Unai Emery allowed Calum Chambers to go out on loan for the year in the summer, it was a clear vote in confidence in the players that he was keeping instead. Sokratis was now the starter, with Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny the other experienced individuals in the group. And then Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos filled out the numbers.

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The problem for Emery is that Mustafi has been wildly inconsistent, Holding tore his ACL in November and will miss the rest of the season, while Mavropanos, who entered the year with a groin issue, has been unable to prove his fitness until January. Suddenly, the numbers that Emery felt comfortable in — comfortable enough to let Chambers leave for a full season — were no more.

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These same depth vulnerabilities have again surfaced, with both Koscielny and Sokratis suffering injuries in Friday’s loss to Manchester United. The numerical problems led many fans to argue that Arsenal should use the January transfer window to fill out their squad. But on Monday, in his pre-match press conference prior to Tuesday night’s home match versus Cardiff City, Emery confirmed that the club would roll with the defenders they have:

"“We have enough players, centre-backs in the squad. Only we’re having a lot of injuries and a lot in this position. If we can bring another player and when all the players want to play, we can have a lot of trouble in the future.”"

That makes Mavropanos a must-play prospect.

Emery handed the Greek defender a vote of confidence in the summer. Unfortunately, Mavropanos’ body could not deliver. But now that he is fit and presumably available, it is time for him to be given a run of games in the starting line-up, and not just because Emery’s hand is forced with a lack of alternative options beyond makeshift full-backs.

Arsenal must begin planning for the summer transfer window. To properly prepare, they need to first determine what positions will be their priority, ranking the different areas of need and planning where they will invest heavily and where they will try and work with what they already have.

How can that process be undertaken thoroughly without all of the potentially capable players in the current squad being tested? There is no way of Arsenal knowing how important a need centre-back is in the summer if they do not know how capable Mavropanos is at the position. It could well end up being that he is ready to be a weekly starter. Suddenly, that frees up cash to spend in other positions.

Mavropanos, therefore, is now the must-play prospect. It is time for Emery to thrust him into the starting line-up and see whether he will flourish or not.