Arsenal: 3 ideal options at center-back to shore up the defense

Dayot Upamecano is the future of this Arsenal defense, and that’s a hill I’m prepared to die on. But with hopefully at least two—preferably three—center backs on the way out this summer, we’re going to need more than just him to fix our center-back problem.

Upamecano for a reported £40m is the steal of the century for Arsenal. The French center-back is the all-star of RB Leipzig’s young crop of defenders, and a move for him looks inevitable, He is tall, composed, excellent on the ball, and skilled tactically.

Oh, and he’s also one of the best defenders in the world. With 51 tackles (he completes 77 percent of the tackles he attempts), 38 interceptions, 66 clearances, and 32 blocks on the season, he’s putting up all-star numbers.

In comparison, David Luiz has 19 tackles and a 69% completion rate in one fewer appearance. Sokratis is slightly better, at 29 tackles, but with a completion rate of 63%, his lack of athleticism shows. And don’t even get me started on Mustafi’s numbers.

The only category in which the Arsenal starters edge Upamecano is in clearances, which speaks more to the tactics employed by the managers than to the skill of the center-back; a center-half who sits deep and defends for his life is far more likely to accumulate clearances then one who presses high with the team, wins the ball back, and restarts possession.

The reason I mention those three defenders is because they’re the ones who need to go. Sokratis is past his prime, David Luiz is a stopgap, and Mustafi… no thanks. A compact defensive line behind the midfield has proven itself crucial in Mikel Arteta’s tactics at Arsenal, and Upamecano fits perfectly into that system. And those three do not.

But Dayot Upamecano is not enough. The potential departures of multiple defenders leaves an injury-plagued trio of Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, and Dinos Mavropanos behind to sweep up the pieces. That’s not good enough. Here are my thoughts about who else we should bring in to bolster our backline. We start with No. 3.