Arsenal: 5 David Luiz alternatives with summer exit confirmed

Konstantinos Mavropanos

Another loanee due back in the summer, what Konstantinos Mavropanos boasts over Saliba is experience, not just in numbers, but in English football.

Signed for less than £2m in January 2018, the Greek defender has improved dramatically since the moment he walked through the door. Initially set to work his way up through the youth ranks, he was fast-tracked into the first team and featured a surprising number of times under Arsene Wenger.

He’s since had two loan spells in Germany where he could hardly have done much better, and the decision to tie him down to a long-term contract prior to sending him out on loan last summer was one of few credible decisions made in regards to player management over recent years.

Is he good enough to challenge for a starting spot? He certainly is no David Luiz when it comes to having the ball at his feet, yet as a progressive figure this facet of his game has improved tenfold.

In terms of leadership, he demonstrates true battling qualities on the pitch but in the dressing room he’s not set to be rallying the troops or putting an arm around the youngsters (himself?) any time soon. No slight on him since this is a unique quality to have, but the likelihood is that he’ll spend another season on loan or move permanently in the summer.