Arsenal and William Saliba: The consequences on centre-back position

Arsenal have seemingly stepped up their pursuit of William Saliba. Here are the potential consequences of signing the 18-year-old centre-back.

Arsenal are still yet to make a signing — or even come close to making a significant signing — this summer. With now less than two months remaining, the worry levels are beginning to rise a little.

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Nevertheless, if there was one name that has surged into the public light on Monday, it was Saint Etienne’s young defender William Saliba. The 18-year-old has long been a target of the Gunners, but in the last few days, personal terms have reportedly been agreed with the two clubs discussing the terms of the deal, thought to be somewhere in the region of £18 million with a potential year-long loan back at St. Etienne.

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But what would a Saliba signing mean for the centre-back position as a whole? How does he aid the options Unai Emery already has to select from and what are the knock-on effects for the players already in the squad?

The first and most noticeable thing to say is that Saliba is not being bought to start next season. Even if he is not loaned back to St. Etienne, it would be surprising if he barged his way straight into the starting XI from day one. The point of the acquisition is that he can anchor the defence for an extended period.

Saliba’s arrival, then, would not really impact the decision-making regarding Sokratis or Shkodran Mustafi or even Laurent Koscielny. Yes, another option does mean that depth is not the same concern, but if Emery believes they will start, Saliba entering the equation will not change that.

The players that would be impacted by Saliba’s transfer are the three young centre-halves that have been, at different periods, heralded as the future of the position: Dinos Mavropanos, Rob Holding, and Calum Chambers.

Of the three, it is difficult to know which is currently atop Emery’s thinking. Holding performed the best last season before an ACL tear, Chambers is the most experienced and was named Fulham’s Player of the Year last season but was also loaned out in the first place, suggesting Emery was not so keen on him, while Mavropanos missed essentially the whole season through fitness problems but is likely the most talented.

One thing is clear, however: Saliba’s arrival, should he then not be loaned back to St. Etienne, would likely mean the sale of one of these three. Player development is dependent on opportunity and playing time and it would be difficult to provide the necessary chances for three young defenders behind three first-team options, presuming none of them are sold.

Whether Saliba does end up in north London remains to be seen, but his arrival would provide a shake-up at the centre-back position. And that is not necessarily a bad thing.