The Athletic’s James McNicholas has claimed Arsenal’s current right-back situation is ‘absurd’ and thinks they should focus on a new signing before the transfer window closes.
Arsenal currently have four options at right-back: Calum Chambers, Cedric, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and Hector Bellerin.
However, McNicholas has claimed that none of them are a particularly preferable choice for Mikel Arteta and that area of the pitch is a ‘big problem’ for the Gunners.
While discussing the issue on the Arsecast Extra podcast, McNicholas outlined his issue with the current options, saying: “When you see Cedric in that starting lineup, it doesn’t fill you with confidence, because you know this is a guy Arteta basically hasn’t wanted to use for about six months.
“And it does speak to a slightly absurd situation at right-back where we have four guys, but none of them are ‘the guy’.
“I do think that is sort of increasingly – and maybe it’s just because we’ve got other business done – but if there is any life left in this window, I think it has to be focused on that area of the pitch because it’s a big, big problem.”
TIF Thoughts on Arsenal’s right-back situation…
Chambers started against Brentford and struggled. Cedric suffered a similar fate at the weekend against Chelsea.
Maitland-Niles doesn’t seem to be in with much of a chance of being trusted, having not featured in either of those two games – and having been loaned out last season to West Brom.
Meanwhile, it has been widely reported that Bellerin wants to leave and will be allowed to do so if the right offer comes in.
It doesn’t look as though any of those options particularly convince Arteta, but in Kieran Trippier, Arsenal may have a solution.
The English defender has recently been linked with a move to the club, and having just won La Liga last season, he would likely represent a step up in quality for the Gunners.