The biggest names to join [Arsenal](https://goonernews.com/) in the summer transfer window were new attackers Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, and of course, No. 9 Viktor Gyokeres, as well as high-priced and world-class defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
But quietly, Arsenal loaded up at virtually every position on the pitch, and, once again, they got even stronger defensively, adding two amazing young center backs in Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie to a unit that already contained the best starting duo in the world in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
Because Saliba and Gabriel are so good and so indispensable for Mikel Arteta, they aren’t going to get to play a whole lot. And Hincapie only just returned from an injury.
But based on the excellence we’ve already seen from Mosquera when needed as well as how great both players were in other leagues, you really have to say that the Arsenal backup center backs are even better than Chelsea’s starting group, especially with Levi Colwill injured.
Now, new faces Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato are great young players, and neither would necessarily look out of place on the Arsenal back line. But Hincapie and Mosquera have a better track record in Europe’s top five leagues.
Mosquera was honestly so good when he got starts for Arsenal this season that there’s not much of a drop off between him and the starters, scarily enough, and Hincapie has the upside to be similarly brilliant.
Arsenal have the best starting center back duo and the best backup center back duo in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Chelsea are clearly behind their peers in this regard defensively and haven’t shown any signs of giving Enzo Maresca more help.
Joe Soriano is the editor of _The Trivela Effect_ and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like _The Real Champs_ (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage _NFL Spin Zone_ and _Daily DDT,_ covering the NFL and pro wrestling.