Arsenal entered the summer transfer window with a clear blueprint. Mikel Arteta wanted a new right-back. The plan was to bring in a versatile option to compete with Ben White, a player the club were actually willing to let go if the right money arrived on the table. It made sense at the time.
White had faded into the background, racking up just 12 Premier League appearances and a mere 704 minutes across the 2025/26 campaign.
He had plummeted down the pecking order. Cashing in on him while recruiting a more dynamic presence down the flank looked like a tidy piece of business. Then, William Saliba’s back gave way.
Gunners forced into defensive U-turn
Everything changed in an instant. Reports suggest the French centre-half faces months out if he goes under the knife. Arsenal are keeping tight-lipped, but the rumour mill is spinning fast.
Word from the club indicates the Emirates hierarchy now views surgery as the most probable outcome. That means Saliba could be sidelined until next year. It is a massive blow, and it completely alters how sporting director Andrea Berta must navigate the transfer window.
Arsenal need numbers, and they need them fast. The current recruitment list includes Wesley, Ivan Fresneda, Nnamdi Collins, and Tino Livramento. Aston Villa anchor Ezri Konsa is also a major target.
Arteta has admired the England international for a long time. Right now, the priority is glaringly obvious. The Gunners require a defender who can slot into the heart of the back line but still cover the flanks when needed.
Konsa is an ideal profile. He was an absolute rock for Unai Emery last term, starting all 34 of his Premier League appearances and clocking 3,036 minutes.
That is serious reliability. He managed nine clean sheets and averaged 3.56 clearances per 90 minutes. He moves effortlessly between centre-back and right-back, meaning he could partner Gabriel Magalhaes or protect the flank without Arsenal losing their defensive edge. Getting him out of Villa Park is the hard part. Villa will fight tooth and nail to keep him.
Livramento is a different profile altogether. The Newcastle man features heavily in the gossip columns, having played 17 league games and 1,327 minutes last season during a campaign disrupted by injuries and competition from Dan Burn.
Rumours suggest Newcastle might sell, and some fans are convinced a move south is already a done deal. Contact has not been made yet, though. A price tag of £60m feels incredibly steep for a player who missed more than half of his team’s fixtures.
Fresneda looks far more sensible on paper. Sporting Lisbon are ready to talk business if someone bids north of £26m. The 21-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a brilliant run in Portugal last year, keeping eight clean sheets and conceding just seven goals in his 18 league games. Sporting only let in a goal every 137 minutes when he was on the pitch. That represents superb value.
What Mikel Arteta should actually do
Flog White now? Absolutely not. Losing Saliba means selling White would be a total disaster. He has the composure to play centrally or wide, and Arsenal need that stability. The real debate centres on who arrives to support him.
Konsa is the dream signing. He instantly upgrades the starting line-up. Realistically, negotiating that deal before the deadline will be a nightmare. Livramento offers pace and Premier League experience, but £60m is a massive gamble given his recent medical history.
The board will take some convincing. Fresneda is the low-risk option with huge potential, matching the exact profile Arsenal usually target.
Berta needs to act. The sensible move is to trigger a deal for Fresneda or Livramento to secure the flanks, shift White into the centre to fill the Saliba void, and revisit the Konsa situation later. Arsenal cannot let a fractured vertebra ruin their season before it even starts.
Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Facebook Share with WhatsApp Share with Email