How I'd approach full-back this summer
An exhaustive, if clownish, evaluation of dozens of players to understand the best way to reinforce the position(s) with an eye towards the Champions League
The full-back position at Arsenal is in a funny state, simultaneously fantastically settled and remarkably in flux. Many factors are contributing to that picture.
For one, the addition of Zinchenko and the transition of White have transformed the position into one of the strongest duos in the world. Meanwhile, reinforcements would be welcome on the right: not hypothetically, but immediately, as the loan of Cedric and the season-ending injury of Tomiyasu have meant that the position is currently backed up by ... Arsenal’s current starting 6? No wonder Edu and Co. were interested in right-backs in the January window.
On the left, things behind Zinchenko are in a state of transition. Tierney has adapted to the new central-midfield responsibilities with characteristic aplomb, but has found minutes hard to come by.
Teams are reportedly swirling, and while I’d personally love to have him back, I can also dust off my Dispassionate Observer cap, and fully understand if Tierney were to seek a move. There are plenty of top sides who would want him to be the best Tierney he can be, and asking him not to bomb down the touchline is a bit like asking Gabriel Jesus to stay put, or me to write short posts. From Arteta’s perspective, adjustments can be made for his profile, but so much of Arsenal’s success this year is based on the full-backs having a more central presence, and the triangles (and rest defence) it provides. Everything is understandable for all, and today’s post considers what it’d look like if he does move on.
With Nuno Tavares also unlikely to feature next year, new players are likely to be on their way. How should these changes be approached?
Well, I’d usually make a bullshit stat and rank all the potential worldwide options, and that was the course I started to pursue here. There are complicating factors.
For one, we are evaluating talent for two, possibly dramatically different positions. The difference in their play is evident to the naked eye. It’s also evident in the maps. Here’s a plot of every action they took in the 4-0 win against Everton, for example:
Meanwhile, their responsibilities in early-phase build-up are different, with White acting as a third centre-back and Zinchenko joining a midfield two:
As possession advances in the attacking third, White generally tucks in or overlaps Saka — while Zinchenko, well, does whatever the fuck he wants to do, helping trigger regular rotations.
How much of this is due to the “system,” and how much is about playing to the unique strengths of the Arsenal lineup? It’d wager it’s both. Here’s what I believe is durable:
The full-backs will continue to invert, and one will need to be able to build-up from a back-three and provide more defensive support.
The Arsenal right wing is helmed by the current best right-winger in the world, who is an all-out 1v1 dominator — and is best supported by simple overlaps. The left wing is best when rotating like mad. I don’t see that changing.
The full-backs will continue to be hubs of progression. Fun fact: out of all the players worldwide I pulled for this sample, the top three in progressive passes per 90 were Zinchenko, White, and Tomiyasu.
From there, the name of the game is providing cover for Zinchenko’s expansiveness and midfield press-resistance (which can’t currently be found on next year’s expected roster), and providing consistent attacking threat and depth on the right, without sacrificing too much of what’s made White so good (i.e., how he played against Crystal Palace). With Tomiyasu still in the plans, and Kiwior potentially providing increased defensive cover at LB, the options can lean a little attacking.
With all of this factors in play, I gradually recognized that finding the next Arsenal full-back is as much art as science. So I pulled a list of around 80 full-backs worldwide, added some flags for desired characteristics — progressive passing relative to age, etc — and will now present you with a more manual list of potential additions to the team. I’ve watched all of the players we’ll actually discuss to varying degrees, but may still have some blindspots, and despite calling this “exhaustive,” I’m sure I’ve forgotten some dudes.
Consider it less of a ranking list, and more of a step-by-step decision tree. Alas:
🔥 Step 1: Make some calls
The first group of players is not necessarily my top four players, but where I feel the research should begin. All four of them have an unknown attached to them — be it availability, injury recovery, or positional fit. Let’s start here.
Noussair Mazraoui, Bayern (RB)
There’s an infinitesimal likelihood that Bayern would make Mazraoui available, but given a squad that is absurdly stacked if not oddly structured, and a new Tuchel in town, there’s probably going be some turnover this summer. Mazraoui should be expected to stay put, but I would have said the same about Nagelsmann, and he’s pedaling that Skateboard of Dreams over the horizon line.
The now-25-year-old full-back had no shortage of suitors after being available on a free transfer from Ajax last summer, and in the months to follow, he did everything to prove why. He’s been pretty much good at All The Things: I have him completing the second-most passes of all full-backs in my sample (after Zinchenko), and the most progressive passes of any non-Arsenal player.
He looks best when inverting, would be natural doing three-back build-up in the first phase, and is an active and intelligent defender (though he doesn’t quite possess center-back quality physicality like White). He’s also capable of playing on both sides, as he did for Morocco at the World Cup. I’m not overly concerned about his injury record, which leans towards the unfortunate rather than the chronic: lingering effects from getting drilled in the eye with a ball, or from COVID-19. He looked truly special coming on for Pavard late against Barcelona — so smart and technical.
The plan to get him is simple. As the Tuchel Monster demands to be fed more wing-backs to survive another century, you simply offer him one (1) Mint Condition Nuno Tavares and say ✌️.
Tino Livramento, Southampton (RB)
For all the widespread availability of football data, there’s still a massive information asymmetry between the teams and the plebes when it comes to a player like Livramento. We’ll start with the bad: in the closing months of a breakout Premier League campaign as an 18-year-old, Livramento suffered an ACL injury that has kept him out since. Details are hazy, but it’s been a bit of a winding recovery from there.
With that out of the way, let’s get back to the player. When healthy, Tino is a unicorn profile. Coming up through Chelsea’s system with experience as a winger and wing-back, he’s a 1-of-1 blend of attacking power, endurance, leggy athleticism, and dynamic (if still developing) passing at the position. He’s got the Saka Strength that makes him difficult to push over, and explosive bits of recovery pace in either direction that would suit a possession-dominant but “oh-fuck-get-baaack-five-times-a-game” side. He’d look at home in the inverted-yet-overlapping slot, and his wide and diverse crosses could add a new element to the Arsenal attack. He’s been fine and occasionally excellent as a defender when I’ve watched, and has the physical tools to succeed there.
After that, it’s all unknowns. Is Southampton being conservative with his recovery, or are the delays more than minor blips? Could Chelsea trigger £38 million buy-back (after all, he is a football player, and Chelsea seem to want as many of those as possible)? How does he look in training? What is the likelihood that somebody in the comments section dismisses Livramento with a mention of Bellerín, and why is it 100%?
Yes, an impartial risk assessment would probably point Arsenal in a different direction. But recoveries aren’t all the same, which is why I’d leave this up to the scouts and trainers to decide. He could be wiped; he could be faster now, for all we know. With White doing so well, Tomiyasu still in the plans, and the option to ease a Livramento in, this is a role that may reward those with a healthy appetite for risk.
And next, we enter the “Trossard Tier”:
Raphaël Guerreiro, Dortmund (LB/CM)
What if I told you there was a star left-back, who has proven himself at the highest levels of club and country, is one of the better close-control technicians in the world, but looks noticeably better whenever he plays as a flexible (if more central) attacking midfielder? Better yet, what if I told you he may be available on a free?
Forgive the hyperbole, but I think anybody who watched the recent two-game stretch in the midfield is roughly in the same camp, even if it was against Köln and Schalke. Said one Dortmund fan: “We have Messi on our team and we decided to play him left-back for so many years.” He was floating everywhere, crisp and secure and technical throughout, generating inventive goals, assists, and opportunities, and generally putting in some of the best performances I’ve seen all year.
I left convinced that he’s the single player in the world most capable of playing the Zinchenko centralattackingmidfieldback role. Combine that with the ability to genuinely play the Xhaka role, and for the low-low transfer cost of free-ninety-nine, he’s an ideal profile for me.
Every rose has its thorn, however. He wasn’t this good last year, and he’s a Zinchenkoey defender who gets caught way up-pitch a lot, and doesn’t compensate with aerial prowess. But there are the bigger reasons a move is unlikely: chief among them, he just turned 29 😬. Moreover, BVB are reportedly now looking to keep him, and he hasn’t been tempted to move in the past.
If Arteta can convince him (correctly, in my view) that there is a role purpose-built for his unique skillset and career stage, and the team is looking to make a signing that maximizes value in a short-term deal — this is a player who can excellently cover multiple positions while appreciably increasing the budget for other marquee signings. A Trossard of the Deep, if you will. Count me in.
Álex Grimaldo, Benfica (LB)
Grimaldo is probably the most productive player on this list, and the most pivotal to his team’s success. He plays as a true full-back in Benfica’s double-midfield-pivot system, blasting in endless dangerous crosses, dictating play out wide, and adding beautiful curling free-kicks and corners. Despite his experience in a more conventional role, I do generally trust his potential as a midfield technician, as he’s a wonderful small-space operator (91.8% on short passes), doesn’t lose the ball a lot, and cuts in towards the box a healthy amount. That said, if I were in his boots, would I look at Tierney and still be looking to sign with a team who would ask me to adapt my play-style, but couldn’t guarantee me starting minutes? In all probability, no. Fairs.
🔥 Step 2: Sign this guy
OK, you’re done with your exploratory calls? Let’s sign this guy.
Iván Fresneda, Valladolid (RB)
Take everything we wrote about Mazraoui and Livramento above, and combine it with the profile of a player who is younger, rawer, less proven, more athletic (or at least close to it with Livramento), and without the injury history. That’s Fresneda.
Playing for a 16th-placed Valladolid that doesn’t dominate possession, Fresneda is regularly challenged on the flank by LaLiga wingers. Broadly speaking, he apprises himself well. He’s balanced, strong, and his bursts of speed help compensate for any momentary misreads: he tackles 70% of would-be challengers. He started to make a real name for himself by zeroing out Vinicius:
I’ve watched a few Valladolid games this year. For two of them, I kept my eye on Fresneda the whole time. There are three areas where he pops the most: work-rate (he’s always running, and fast); basic attention to technique (if you watch small moments, like how he situates himself when blocking a shot, you get the sense of a player who cares about details); and close-control dribbling (which has all the makings of a dynamic, press-resistant force throughout phases of play). He looks comfortable taking up inverted positions and is active off-the-ball, making interior cuts you wouldn’t usually see from a full-back.
Passing-wise, he’s more of a work-in-progress, but it’s not because of how the ball comes off his foot — it’s more about timing. When he gets a little space, he’s pretty excellent at finding targets in the medium-to-long range, pounding in some tidy crosses, and interestingly has a high accuracy when playing the ball into the final third. In short passing, he can be Miles Teller in that Whiplash scene, being asked politely whether he is RUSHING OR DRAGGING OR ON MY FUCKING TIME!!!! He is ambitious in his work, but can take a split-second too long in some cases, and can be too anxious in others.
Progressive passes are defined differently across services. If you’re using Opta (fb-ref) data, which is probably a bit more indicative, Arsenal would be looking for him to roughly double (or even triple) his progressive passes per 90, which isn’t impossible given increased touches and developing talent, but it’s still a big ask. Outside of that, he hasn’t quite learned to establish position against savvier players for aerial duels. In other words, he occasionally looks like a really talented guy who started the season as a 17-year-old … which is exactly what he is.
There’s some wagering here with regard to shared trajectory. Like Kiwior, there’s a chance he falls into the category of being good enough to make the team but not quite polished enough to earn the minutes he needs to develop. What’s nice is that I wouldn’t expect that he’d embarrass himself defensively, but this feeling of being “in-between” may have factored into his decision to stay put in January.
Regardless, he possesses some rare qualities, looks very very close to being Arsenal-ready (if he’s not already), holds a top two-way profile, and screams “Arteta player.”
🔥 Step 3: Evaluate the best of the rest
Fresneda went in another direction for more guaranteed playing time? Here’s where to go next.
Sacha Boey, Galatasaray (RB): Lovely player who at 22 is already one of the most complete full-backs in the world outside of the Top 5, and has been one of the best players at any position in the Süper Lig this year. Fast, tireless, smart, and a duel monster: I have him winning at the highest rate of my sample (58.5%), and doing excellent work in the air. He seems to be happiest near the touchline for now, so would still need some adaptation time, but I’ve seen a lot of good undercuts/overlaps at the winger level at Galatasaray, and they settle into similar mid-block shapes as Arsenal. I’d grade the incisiveness of his passes slightly lower than those above, but he’s got good crosses and shots in him, and his recovery speed is excellent. He’s brimming with potential, and I think he’s broadly ready for a jump. Here’s a comp.
Ferdi Kadioglu, Fenerbahçe (LB/RB): Unquestionably the most fun player to research here, as you may have seen in the Europa. A converted attacking midfielder and winger, Kadioglu is an energetic madman in the Süper Lig, flashing genuinely special dribbling ability, positional fluidity, and work-rate. He winds inside and creates opportunities at will. Those aren’t his only tricks, as he’s also been a secure and dynamic passer, and can play both right-back and left-back with pretty much equal skill (he’s made the same amount of appearances at each this year), and covers other spots for Turkey as well — in terms of raw, non-league-adjusted attacking stats, he and Grimaldo are a cut above the rest. I don’t love tidy comparisons, but to address what you’re thinking: yes, he is budget Cancelo. Like Cancelo, he is an active if occasionally messy defender, and he may flame out in a top side … or be a superstar. If you dream of starting Two Zinchenkos, and depth-cover him with a Holding replacement who can play right-back (somebody like Lutsharel Geertruida), he would be a devilishly entertaining hype-man off the bench for a top side. Here’s a comp.
Ian Maatsen, Burnley (LB) (on loan from Chelsea): Maatsen can go way up or way down based on your take of his #readiness. On one hand, he’s had a Saliba-like, pitch-perfect loan spell if one was looking to prepare to join Arsenal. He’s played as an attacking inverted left-back for Vincent Kompany’s Burnley side, and in the process, been one of the better players in the Championship as a 20-year-old. He’s racked up 10 G+A and displayed aggressive, flexible attacking inclinations, attempting 71+ passes per 90 as a hub of possession. On the other hand, he’s still developing physically, and is likely to be a liability while defending Premier League attackers in the short-term, as his vacated zones are targeted as-is. An intriguing profile, in any case.
Arnau Martinez, Girona (RB): Martinez is a similar prospect to Fresneda in LaLiga, and is probably a better player as of today. He’s started 69-of-70 games across levels for Girona as a 19-year-old, and already plays the part of a steady hand despite his age. That isn’t to say he’s not talented, as some of his little feints and close dribbles are fun and effective. As a passer, he’s generally safe and secure, but can lack some of the creative spark of others on this list, and some of the superlative athletic qualities of a Fresneda. He’s tactically flexible, with experience as a CB, and plays mostly out wide now, buoying that with experience as a defensive midfielder.
From there, I’d put the following players in a slight tier below the above four. Let’s call them the best of the rest of the rest:
Alexander Bah, Benfica: Like Grimaldo, Bah currently plays out wide in a 4-2-3-1 with double-pivot midfielders. But Bah is a right-back, and I think he’d comfortably slide into the White role. He’s fast and can handle a ton of possession — passing as much as anybody on the list not named Zinchenko — and adds a lot of long-balls and crosses to his game, though with varying degrees of success. I like when he creeps forward and picks out passes, but he’s only been successful in 8 take-ons so far in Portugal. A nice player.
Ridle Baku, Wolfsburg: If there’s a player I want to watch more to continue figuring out, it’s Baku. On paper, he is a perfect match. He came up through Mainz 05 as jack-of-all-trades player, playing mostly in the midfield but occasionally on the wings and as an attacker. Since joining Wolfsburg, he played in different attacking positions on the right before settling in as a dynamic right-back. His development hasn’t been a straight line, but he’s been durable (something like 100 straight appearances) and has been a total beast this year under new coach Niko Kovač, helping usher in a new period of form that has them seventh in the table. He’s comfortable cutting in, and has played both as an overlapper and with an overlapper (as an inverted winger). I still have a little lack of clarity about his technique when defending (though not his work-rate or recovery runs) and whether his press-break passing is up to Arsenal standards, but I’m interested in finding out more.
Vanderson, Monaco: Vanderson has had a quick development curve since coming to Monaco from Grêmio. He gets pushed up to the wings a lot, and my impulse on limited tape is that he’s exciting but plays a little fast-and-loose for this Arsenal side. That view could evolve with more … viewing.
Adrien Truffert, Rennes: In his third year getting good minutes in Ligue 1 as a 21-year-old, and steadily progressing, Truffert has a has a good mix of talent, trajectory, and experience.
Others to keep an eye on:
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) feels like an obvious choice. Really like him as a rounded-out overall player who would provide capable depth across both flanks. Ultimately, my eye test wouldn’t place him into Arsenal’s plans as a controlled possessor and dominant progressor … Victor Kristiansen (Leicester City) has been catching my eye since he joined in January, and apprised himself pretty well against Saka, all considered. He’s athletic, aggressive, and commands respect as a field general type at 20. He has to blast it long a little too much in Leicester’s setup … If this were a ranking of best players, Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen) would be at or near the top. As a true wingery wingback, send a prayer for the defenders who have to try to match a side with both him and Diaby. He’d look good on a Milan type squad, if they’re committed to the 3-back. At Arsenal, I suppose there’s a big-brain case that Frimpong could offer both winger depth and offensive RB depth, but even my brain’s not that big, and I’m a Human Tactics Genius … Pepê (Porto) — no, not that one — is the kind of profile that would solve most depth issues. He’s vibrant, active, and attacking and can play most everywhere, including both wings, attacking mid, and right-back … Borna Sosa (Stuttgart) had some meh performances at the World Cup but looks excellent whenever I see him in the Bundesliga. He’s capable of some wild shit technically and can cross his ass off … Often across the formation from Kadioğlu, Lincoln (Fenerbahçe) is another former midfielder/winger who is starting to pump in exciting performances as a left-back. He had some top performances in Portugal last year, and he’s got some nice passes in his repertoire. He may be a late bloomer who just needs to find the right situation and position … Ayrton Lucas (Flamengo) would be my top choice from the Brasileiro, I think. After getting a feel for his game, I sense that he’d be a player who could dive right into the Premier League. Now about to turn 26, he’s likely not on the target list … Juan Foyth (Villarreal) is a former Spur but nonetheless has some good underlying numbers in LaLiga … I’d never seen Hugo Bueno (Wolverhampton Wanderers) play before he started against Arsenal before the World Cup break. He’s a raw 20-year-old who nonetheless has obvious talent … Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig) was an every-week starter in the Bundesliga eight years ago. Winding across the pitch at midfield and winger, he looks increasingly settled in as a right-back. He’s rock-solid.
🔥 Step 4: Check out the prospects (and others)
Arsenal already have two promising options in their ranks, of course: Lino Sousa looks perfectly natural as an inverted left-back whenever I watch. Just turning 18, he’s likely a loan or two away from contributing. Brooke Norton-Cruffy flashed plenty of promise at Lincoln City, but since has had an uneven year — statistically, at least, as I haven’t watched yet — getting recalled from Rotherham United to join Coventry City in January. I’d also like to watch Reuell Walters a bit more to understand his trajectory, but he’s apparently capable of playing both RB and CB.
Elsewhere on the prospect front, Valentín Barco (Boca Juniors) is the most electric out of any prospect I’ve tracked (here’s a comp for ya). I’m surprised he’s not getting more time with the senior team.
Here are a few players I’ve seen and can comment a little on:
Amar Dedić, RB Salzburg: His athleticism pops, and his underlying stats seem to back that up.
Bjorn Meijer, Club Brugge: Another excellent statistical profile, I saw him bin a ridiculous goal as Scott Parker’s boys were themselves getting binned out of the Champions League by Benfica.
Lewis Hall, Chelsea: Marginally prefer Maatsen from the Chelsea system just in terms of fit, but Hall has generally looked impressive in his scattered appearances for the senior team, and has a highly modern skillset.
And here are a few younger players who I haven’t really seen, but who have a promising statistical makeup:
Riccardo Calafiori (FC Basel), Milos Kerkez (AZ Alkmaar), Yukinari Sugawara (AZ Alkmaar), Tom Rothe (Dortmund), Quentin Merlin (Nantes), Luca Netz (Borussia M'gladbach), Vinícius Tobías (Real Madrid Castilla)
As a way of showing work, here’s a laundry list of other full-backs who were in the consideration set. For one reason or another, they weren’t flagged as a statistical match for Arsenal, and/or I haven’t personally seen enough to manually override that presumption. It doesn’t mean they’re bad; it just means this post is already too damn long and it has to stop somewhere:
P. Estupiñán (Brighton), R. Aït Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers), O. Wijndal (Ajax), T. Adaramola (Crystal Palace U21), Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace), Caio Henrique, (Monaco), F. Parisi (Empoli), Dodô (Fiorentina), T. Lamptey (Brighton), J. Knight (Derby County), Thierry Correia (Valencia), J. Lotomba (Nice), V. Rosier (Beşiktaş), Aarón Martín (Mainz 05), M. Pedersen (Feyenoord), Caio Henrique (Monaco), S. Adingra (Union Saint-Gilloise), Manu Sánchez (Osasuna), A. Robinson (Fulham), R. Giles (Middlesbrough), Aitor Ruibal (Real Betis), J. Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Miguel Gutiérrez (Girona), Tiago Santos (Estoril), O. Campos (Santos Laguna), A. Cambiaso (Bologna), E. Laird (Queens Park Rangers), Y. Atal (Nice), D. Raum (RB Leipzig), F. Amuzu (Anderlecht), Pablo Maffeo (Mallorca), Angeliño (Hoffenheim), M. Aarons (Norwich City), D. Dumfries (Internazionale), R. Henry (Brentford), D. Bradarić (Salernitana), N. Williams (Nottingham Forest), M. Cash (Aston Villa), N. Patterson (Everton)
There are some hybrid CB/RB’s that will be in a dedicated post about potential targets at RCB. Off-hand, players like Geertruida, Timber, and Simakan come to mind, but I’ll investigate when the time comes.
The funny part is how not how many players I’ve listed — but how many I’ve surely forgotten.
🔥 Step 5: Evaluate which midfield targets could also offer Zinchenko depth
As we’ve established, the left-back isn’t a left-back so much as a midfielder who is responsible for dominating possession, breaking the press, hassling transition runners in the midfield, then holding the widest position in the 4-4-2 block. Especially with Gabriel’s proven excellence holding the fort, and the possibility of Rice getting ample minutes on this side, the cleanest comps to Zinchenko will likely be other midfielders.
With that in mind, here’s a partial list of players who I think could do the job:
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid: Mmhmm. Mmmmmhmm.
Moisés Caicedo, Brighton & Hove Albion: I have trouble seeing Caicedo struggling at any of our midfield or full-back positions: he’s just too hard-working, smart, composed, defensively active, and available to not do well. He ranked fourth worldwide in D.U.E.L.S., which evaluated “depth upgrades at the elusive lone six,” and one could argue that he’d do better at the left-8. I don’t just think he could cover the spot … I think he could do it well.
Teun Koopmeiners, Atalanta: As one of the better players in Serie A this year, he strikes me as the exact kind of player you want when entering Champions League. He just turned 25 and is technical, press-resistant, experienced in being a hub of possession, extraordinarily positionally aware, and has every pass in his bag. The Atalanta style of play means he does a lot of long passes and switches, but he’s comfortable in more grounded build-up. He could play as an advanced 10, picking out smart passes like SMS in the Xhaka channel, but his career heatmap looks like Zinchenko’s — he’s comfortable building play from deep, and even played plenty as a central defender back in the day. Dead ball specialist, to boot.
Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton & Hove Albion: This would be more of a short-term solution / emergency thing, methinks, as he definitely looks the most dynamic closer to the goal. But do I think he could do it? I do.
Off-hand, I could also see Locatelli doing well here, but that also doesn’t mean it’s where he’d be best-used. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall comes to mind, as well — he stands out every time I watch Leicester. He runs his ass off and seems plenty press-resistant but I’d want to investigate more to see how he’d do in rondo-style passing (that’s not me doubting anything — I genuinely don’t know). I might make a fuller post on this specific topic one day.
OK, Billy, what would you do?
This situation is fluid, and there are bound to be surprising developments in the months to come. There may be unexpected departures and/or returns on the Arsenal side. New players may be put on the market.
But where’s the fun in not speculating? As of today, sitting here in a basement in the end of March, here’s how I’d approach the full-back position in the summer, with the assumption that Tierney and Tavares are not ultimately on the roster:
Sign Declan Rice: No, I don’t expect him to play LB (though, honestly, he could), but his signing helps bolster the roster for the following two steps.
Sign a right-back: Make a move for the following, in order: Mazraoui (if somehow available), Livramento (only with an extensive injury scout, of course, which probably still raises too many flags), then: Fresneda, Boey, Kadioglu, Arnau Martinez. I’d likely settle on Fresneda. Regardless, I would lean towards the player with the highest possible potential, as many mid-term needs are satisfied.
Sign another midfielder who can also be second on the depth chart at LB: Caicedo or Camavinga would be the dream. After that, Guerreiro makes so much sense in terms of output and value. From there, I’d go Koopmeiners.
If that all happens, the depth-chart looks something like:
Left-8: Rice / [Xhaka + Caicedo, Guerreiro, or Koopmeiners] / Vieira / ESR / etc
Right-back: White / [Fresneda] / Tomiyasu / [Possible CB/RB hybrid]
Left-back: Zinchenko / [Caicedo, Guerreiro, Koopmeiners] / Tomiyasu / Kiwior (as CB/LB hybrid)
I wouldn’t claim to have any idea about the budget, but considering the amounts thrown around for the likes of Caicedo and Mudryk in January, many of the options above would seem to leave enough funds necessary to fund reinforcements elsewhere — notably on the wing.
I don’t know, that’s looking mighty Champions Leaguey to me.
Cheers. It’s race match week.
Happy grilling. 🔥
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 excellent summary. Do you think Nagelsman’s skateboard could do a job for us?
Great write up, I usually don't care for arsenal but this made me think a lot.