Sport
Arsenal should prioritise signing a new centre back over Declan Rice
Arsenal see Declan Rice as their top target for the summer transfer window and aren’t waiting much time in getting a deal done for the midfielder. The Gunners have reportedly lodged multiple bids for Rice with West Ham holding out for a Premier League-record fee of over £100m. Manchester City are also interested, but Arsenal are widely expected to sign Rice this summer.
A new centre back should be above Rice on Arsenal’s shopping list, though. If Mikel Arteta wants to make amends for the way his team collapsed down the stretch in last season’s Premier League title race, he must strengthen his backline. This is, after all, where the Gunners were ultimately found out.
William Saliba’s injury exposed just how thin-on-the-ground Arsenal’s squad is in the defensive area. Without the Frenchman at the back, the Gunners lacked presence and had trouble playing out. What’s more, without Saliba’s pace Arteta couldn’t push Arsenal’s defensive line as high up the pitch.
This is the deficiency Arsenal must address before moving on to other targets. This is where the biggest difference was between the Gunners, who sat top of the table for most of the season, and Manchester City, who got their hands on the trophy in the end. Pep Guardiola had Aymeric Laporte to bring in as a defensive deputy whereas Arteta had Rob Holding.
Manchester United were left in a similar situation following injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane for the final few fixtures of last season. This has informed their summer transfer strategy with the Old Trafford club keen to add Napoli’s Kim Min-jae to their squad before the start of next season.
Even if United end up missing out on Kim, who is also reportedly interesting Bayern Munich, they are expected to move for another centre back – Axel Disasi and Jean-Clair Todibo are also believed to be on their radar. This is the sort of effort Arsenal should be putting into finding a new central defender this summer.
It could be the case that the Gunners also intend to sign a centre back – talks with Ajax over the signing of Jurrien Timber have taken place – but see Rice as a target they must move for now or risk losing out. Rice’s signing would also consume a large portion of Arsenal’s summer transfer budget and so other transfers might depend on the price West Ham end up demanding for their prize asset.
Rice will evolve Arsenal’s midfield and give them greater quality in the centre of the pitch. It is widely believed Granit Xhaka will depart the Emirates Stadium this summer and recent reporting claims Thomas Partey could follow him out the exit door. Arteta clearly has big plans for his midfield unit and is willing to spend big to realise them – Ilkay Gundogan also has an offer from the North London club.
Additions will also be required in the full back areas with Kieran Tierney wanted by Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Arteta likes his full backs to come inside with the ball to free up midfielders into advanced positions high up the pitch and so high-level scouting is needed to find players who can operate in this way.
Arsenal would also have to be specific in their search for a new centre back. They need an upgrade on Holding. They need someone who can fill-in for Saliba without much of a drop-off. Such a player could cost a lot, but this is why Arsenal must be careful not to commit too much of their budget to the pursuit of Rice when the need for a new central defender is even greater.
