Arsenal: 5 summer transfer goals and current targets

4. Right-Back

Known targets: Djed Spence

Expected departures: Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares (potential)

Cedric, to his credit, has come into the side in place of the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu and diligently gone about his duties over the previous four Premier League matches.

The drop off from when his teammate is in the team remains vast, however.

Tomiyasu not only stabilises the team, he also brings variance in build-up, security in the air, has fewer brain farts, and brings a balance that aids the left side. Saka and Odegaard can conjure up magic on the right but without Kieran Tierney charging down the left side there is less penetration from the opposing flank. The Scot hasn’t looked as assured lately operating as more orthodox left-back.

Whether Cedric will move on or not, the club is looking into the signing of a new right-back to provide competition for Tomiyasu, someone ideally younger and with sell-on value to complement the recruitment strategy.

Djed Spence remains a target, although there is fierce competition from Germany and Tottenham, with the latter of those adopting a wing-back system more suited to his profile. Other than that, there are no other concrete links.

As with some positions, it depends on who departs.

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