Arsenal: 3 implications from David Luiz contract extension

2. Bank on William Saliba

It’s hard to look at this any other way. If there was going to be a complete clearout, and we were going to lose the three we currently have—Luiz, Sokratis, and Mustafi—then we had to assume we’d be getting two new defenders, likely two guys that we had hopes of starting. Then Pablo Mari, if we keep him permanently, would be the swingman heading the rotational squad.

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In that scenario, Saliba is probably playing the third wheel until he could prove otherwise.

But if we plan to keep Luiz, then you could even make the argument that we don’t actually need to sign anyone right away. Not if we plan to run with Saliba and Luiz at the back, with Mari and Calum Chambers as the swingers.

Whatever the case, more rides on Saliba in this situation, because it will be up to him to either hold down the defense next to Luiz, or challenge Luiz for the starting job, since it’ll be unlikely he challenges a big defensive signing.

Which means good things. It means that there is more faith in Saliba than in another new signing. Hard to complain about that.

Most importantly, No. 1.