Arsenal have been linked with moves for players such as Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa this window as the Gunners look to sign a centre-back with William Saliba expected to miss the start of the season.
The Frenchman is set to spend some time recovering from a long-term back problem that has bothered him over the last few months. It made him miss France’s final game at the 2026 World Cup, and it was during that competition that the defender aggravated the problem.
Arsenal still consider him one of their top players, and the Gunners are happy to have him in their squad, but his absence weakens them, and they could look to sign a replacement.
Keown Backs Arsenal Academy Options
However, Martin Keown is not convinced that they need to sign someone new and has identified players who could step up. The Gunners have some very good players in their squad, and Keown believes a replacement for Saliba could be among them.
“Marli Salmon looked really good in the friendly game against Como; he’s progressing nicely,” Keown exclusively told Football London.
“Mosquera for me also looked really sharp in that match. I don’t think there’s a necessity to buy a central defender, I think that’s an area they can cope with.”
Keown’s comments suggest Arsenal already have options within the squad who could help them cope with Saliba’s absence. Their performances in pre-season have given the former defender confidence that the club can manage without immediately bringing in another centre-back.
Arsenal Have Defensive Options
“I’m hearing that they are being linked with various central defenders, so maybe they want to strengthen in that area [but] defending-wise, [Riccardo] Calafiori can also pop into there, [Piero] Hincapie can do that. All left-footed. So that area looks particularly strong for Arsenal.”
Arsenal therefore have several options available to them as they consider how best to deal with Saliba’s absence. The club could still decide to strengthen, but Keown believes their existing defensive options are strong enough to cope.
The Gunners will have to assess their squad carefully before making a decision, particularly with Saliba expected to miss the beginning of the campaign. Their academy players could provide an opportunity to address the issue without necessarily making another signing.
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