Arsenal: William Saliba being “worth the wait” isn’t the point

Arsenal target William Saliba has been dubbed “worth the wait,” but that’s not the point at all, is it? No one is doubting if he will be worth the wait.

Arsenal appear to be serious about this whole William Saliba business. Something about spending £25m on a guy and loaning him back for a year is appealing to them, despite the obvious issues therein, but as the deal moves forward, more and more are flocking to the defense of this deal.

Right now, the argument is resting on, “he is worth the wait.” And that’s fine and dandy. I’m sure he will be worth the wait. He’s a physically outstanding, immensely talented 18-year-old centerback, who wouldn’t want to wait for that?

It isn’t William Saliba being worth the wait that I’m worried about, it’s the fact that this club isn’t in a position to wait.

This defense needs help now and unless Arsenal have a hidden stash and still possess the ability to turn around and buy a Joachim Andersen (please), or an Armando Izzo (also works), then giving the defensive mantle to a player who we won’t have until 2020 makes about as much sense as not taking out your umbrella in a rain storm until you’re halfway home. Why wouldn’t you just do it right away?

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Here’s what you have to ask yourself—are you willing to give up 50+ goals this year? We’re losing our best defender, Laurent Koscielny. At least presumably. So are you willing to run that risk, not improve the defense, and weather the experiment phase for another year?

I bet some of you aren’t.

Because some of you were upset that the experiment phase even went on as long as it did. One whole year, what a travesty. Now we’re willing to not repair the defense, all in the name of getting a player who we’ll have later on down the road.

I’m sure I sound like a broken record at this point. It feels like every other day I’m out here barking about how Saliba may be great, but we need someone now. The only reason I came out to say the same thing again is because of this new string of logic that he would be worth the wait.

There are options out there that would bolster this defense now and in the future. Why that hasn’t taken priority over this option is beyond me.