Arsenal: 15 left-back & right-back summer transfer targets

Arsenal require considerable squad surgery. A frightening amount. Running through the team, what is most worrying of all is that the ‘untouchables’ can be counted on close to one hand. As the summer transfer window approaches, only one of those is a full-back. Mikel Arteta is out to acquire more and here are 15 of those targets.

If any evidence was needed that the manager isn’t overly keen with the options at his disposal, the absence of Kieran Tierney through injury prompted Granit Xhaka it fill in that spot for seven consecutive matches. An entire systematic structure followed.

There were others to fill the role, none of which were left-backs. Sead Kolasinac is the only other option and he was busy over in Germany filling in as a holding midfielder.

Then in the Premier League win over Chelsea, Bukayo Saka slotted in at right wing-back with a whole three right-backs sitting on the bench. Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares weren’t favoured.

Arsenal: 15 left-back & right-back summer transfer targets as Mikel Arteta seeks defensive reinforcements

Chambers has been impressive in the position since his return from injury, offering a different profile to his fellow teammates. The jury is still out on whether he’s a viable starting option long-term. As for Bellerin, his time in north London will draw to a close at the end of the season, bringing an end to a decade of service.

Cedric has fallen way down the pecking order since his foolishness against Slavia Prague and while Arteta would like to shift the 29-year-old this summer, he’ll be hard pressed to do so for someone who is third choice right-back and fourth choice left-back in a side embarking on their worst season for decades.

At least one will be acquired for either flank, and among those rumoured – who feature – there are others that the recruitment should be keeping their eye on, or may be doing so anyway. For both left and right-back, here are 15 potential targets for the summer transfer window.

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Borna Sosa – Stuttgart

Kicking things off with left-backs.

The German club are familiar to Arsenal fans given that former scout Sven Mislintat is now employed over there and, of course, because Konstantinos Mavropanos is currently on loan with the side.

Stuttgart operate with a back three system that incorporates wing-backs, which is where Borna Sosa has been fielded this season. With the club since 2018, the Croatian has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign this term making 26 appearances in all competitions, where his outstanding delivery has, yes really, been compared to that of David Beckham.

It’s obviously a huge stretch but then 23-year-old does boast a wicked left foot that has been a weapon down that flank for the Bundesliga outfit.

Compared to full-backs across the top five European leagues in the past 365 days, he sits in the top 94th percentile and above for assists per 90 mins, expected assists (xA), non-penalty expected goals and assists (xp-xG +xA) as well as shot creating actions (SCA).

His dribbling stats and ball carries per 90 are all in the upper 80’s, with his attacking contributions quite outstanding. Averaging nearly seven crosses per game it’s clear where his assets lie, being a creator from wide areas which is one of Stuttgart’s main avenues to goal. However, defensively there are weaknesses, scoring very lowly for tackles, usually as he’s thrust higher up the pitch.

With a (rough) market value of £10.8m (transfermarkt) and a contract until 2025, his offensive contributions are impossible to ignore.