Arsenal: Let’s, yet again, not forget about Konstantinos Mavropanos

Many want to know what Arsenal plans to spend on this defense, but take care to, yet again, not forget that we have Konstantinos Mavropanos.

With names like Dayot Upamecano being linked to Arsenal, I get why fans would start to get excited about a “big money” deal for a centerback to revolutionize this defense. Like Virgil van Dijk did for Liverpool. But that isn’t a necessary investment and it might even be a waste. Especially when you consider how much we still have at the club. Which includes Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The young Greek centerback is spending the rest of the season on loan at FC Nurnberg, where he has been nothing short of a sensation. He’s moved right into the starting XI and become the sheriff of that town.

Now, Bundesliga 2 probably isn’t going to give anyone the warm and fuzzies, but what do I always say? You can only make the most of what you’re given. And all Mavropanos has had lately is Bundesliga 2 and he is crushing it.

Konstantinos Mavropanos can still be a very real solution for Arsenal

Whether it’s been injuries or lack of opportunity, he just has not been able to get on the pitch with any sort of consistency, and it’s left a lot of people forgetting that he even exists.

Which is why, every three or four months, I take the time to remind everyone that he is still here and he is still a very real solution. Let us not forget that Mavropanos is one of the only players I have ever seen change Arsene Wenger’s mind. When Wenger brought him in, he wanted to send Mavropanos out on loan but the young man was so good that he had to keep him around.

And good thing he did, because he ended up starting the last few matches of the season alongside Calum Chambers. Which, by the way, was a really good defense.

Mavropanos is growing and maturing and improving and he will be back at the Emirates before the start of next season. It would be foolish to count him out of the running as a potential centerback solution. He’s just 22-years-old, so once he has a proper chance to assert himself on this starting XI, like Arsene Wenger gave him, we may see that we have much less of a need than we originally thought.

It’s not flashy and shiny and expensive, but it’s a real potential solution, and when he’s a world-beater, he’ll be shiny enough.