Arsenal have been linked with a move for England centre-back John Stones following William Saliba’s injury.
Saliba suffered a back injury while on international duty with France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and could be ruled out for several months.
Arsenal are now set to face competition for Stones. Chelsea are also considering a move for the former Manchester City defender, according to The Athletic.
The Blues are looking to add more experience to their squad and have added Stones to the list of their targets.
Arsenal should not swoop for Stones
Stones enjoyed a successful 10-year spell at City, winning 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League.
He was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice and the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season once.
Stones, described as ‘world-class‘ by England manager Thomas Tuchel, also helped the Three Lions secure a third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 32-year-old would bring valuable experience and a winning mentality to Arsenal. His intelligence and quality both in and out of possession would also make him a valuable addition.
However, Stones’ fitness makes him unreliable. He has missed 84 games for club and country due to various injuries since 2022/23.
The former Everton defender could also command a sizeable salary and sign-on fee, potentially making him an expensive target.
Arsenal have enough options at centre-back to cope with Saliba’s injury. Gabriel, Cristian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are all capable of deputising until his return.
Highly-rated Marli Salmon, who made his senior team debut last season, could also be used in cup games.
Instead of signing Stones or a new centre-back, Arsenal are better served by signing a versatile full-back.
Stats from Transfermarkt