Arsenal: Dayot Upamecano the obvious choice

Arsenal need centre-half help this summer. And RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano is the obvious choice, if the Gunners can convince him to move.

As the Mikel Arteta era at Arsenal gears towards a crucial summer transfer window in which the new head coach can really begin to shape the team into how he wants it, there is one position that is evidently more pressing than any other: centre-back.

Listen to the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here! — Emergency Podcast: Nightmare

The Gunners central defensive problems are nothing new, sadly. In fact, for the best part of 15 years, the team has been consistently undermined by its lack of convincing centre-backs. The primary cause of this has been poor recruitment, either in the willingness to spend what is necessary to sign elite centre-backs or ill-advised spending when it has been made.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

There is a whole host of names that Arsenal have turned to at the centre-back position, almost all of which have failed. And now it leaves them with several average-to-poor options at the positon and a huge need to invest heavily this summer.

And when it comes to which players should be targetted by the club this summer, in theory to partner with the incoming William Saliba who was signed in last summer’s transfer window but loaned back to Saint-Etienne for the season, there is one choice at the top of the list: Dayot Upamecano.

Upamecano is a 21-year-old unit. Physical, strong, quick across the ground to boot, but also possessing a terrific composure in possession and awareness in his positioning, the Frenchman is the complete central defender. He could slot into the starting XI of almost any team in the world and immediately improve them. And this summer, the RB Leipzig anchor will enter the final year of his contract and hold all the cards.

In an interview with Foot Mercato last week, Upamecano stalled on suggesting where he would end up, stating that he is happy at Leipzig and will consider his options in the summer:

"“I feel very good at RB Leipzig. I like my team-mates, the staff and my club. For the moment, I am still under contract until 2021. I am going to have to continue to train well and play matches. Even though I know that there are clubs that want me, that is certain, I am keeping my feet on the ground. We will discuss my future at the end of the season with my agents and my family.”"

But Arsenal have been interested in signing Upamecano for some time, as almost all of the top clubs in the world have. Bayern Munich are an obvious candidate, as are Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs. The Gunners will have to work hard to convince that north London is the place for Upamecano to continue his other-worldly trajectory.

Nevertheless, when it comes to bolstering the heart of the defence and addressing the team’s greatest need, Upamecano is the plug-and-play solution. Arteta likely knows this already. Now the onus is on the club to get a deal done.