Extra defenders, Mikel, okay? You might need heard some cynical chuckles when Arsenal signed Piero Hincapie and Cristian Mosquera over the summer time.
The Gunners strengthened their entrance line within the final switch window, but it surely’s unlikely {that a} market will finish with out Mikel Arteta spending cash on defence.
Properly, fortunately they did. Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White have already missed massive elements of the season, whereas William Saliba, Julian Timber, Riccardo Calafioli and Cristian Mosquera have additionally missed video games attributable to harm.
Arsenal at the moment are in a troublesome place. Christian Norgaard performed at centre-back towards Membership Brugge a number of weeks in the past, whereas Declan Rice additionally performed at right-back towards Brighton final weekend.
So it is no shock that they are focusing on extra defenders heading into 2026.
Matches performed by Arsenal defenders – 2025/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
participant | recreation | play time |
William Saliba | 19 | 1,535 |
Gabriel | 17 | 1,356 |
julian timber | twenty 4 | 1,848 |
Clown Hincapie | 12 | 771 |
Riccardo Calafioli | 20 | 1,493 |
Cristian Mosquera | 16 | 823 |
ben white | 12 | 604 |
Miles Lewis-Skelly | 19 | 829 |
Mari Salmon | 1 | 7 |
Arsenal pursue highly-rated defender
Regardless of the accidents, Arsenal’s backline seems properly ready for the long run.
Mosquera broke into the Arsenal workforce with relative ease and made positive Saliba was not missed an excessive amount of. The younger Spanish defender’s efficiency in his first begin within the 1-0 defeat at Anfield earlier within the season spoke volumes.
Combining his presence with Hincapie’s rise at each centre-back and left-back, it looks like Arteta has some ways to construction his backline.
Including one other defender to the social gathering makes his choices much more dreamy.
A report by Fabrizio Romano in the summertime recommended that Arsenal have been fascinated about Rennes centre-half Jeremy Jacquet.
Now, in line with Caught Offside, curiosity continues to be very excessive. The participant is on the membership’s shortlist for 2026 they usually declare “casual discussions” are going down concerning his state of affairs.
Nevertheless, the report states that no bids have been made but.
Stories in November estimated the jacket’s worth to be round £35 million. It is a hefty price ticket for a 20-year-old defender, but it surely’s positively price it. For context, Saliba price £27m as an 18-year-old and have a look at him now.
Why is it a good suggestion to signal a contract with Jacket?
If Arsenal have been so as to add a younger French centre-back to their squad, consider it or not, their protection can be even higher.
It is a participant similar to Saliba. Like Arsenal’s quantity two, he made his breakthrough in Ligue 1 as a teen and has been extremely rated ever since.
Though he’s but to be capped at worldwide stage, it should not be lengthy earlier than the younger centre-back joins Didier Deschamps’ squad. A transfer to Arsenal might enhance his possibilities even additional.
He has already been described by scout Ben Mattinson as “a centre-back with the potential to be within the prime 5 on the planet”, whereas fellow scout Jacek Kulig hints that he’s “an insane centre-back who continues to be creating”. The reason being easy.
Like Saliba, he performs with a simple perspective. His calmness is unbelievable for somebody so younger. As Mattinson additional outlines, he “performs with a maturity past his years.”
Like Saliba, he additionally has a protracted stride, which not solely helps him recuperate rapidly and eat up floor rapidly, but in addition means he’s significantly robust in floor battles, profitable 62% of his floor battles this season and 60% in 2024/25.
Not solely is Jaquet completely satisfied to be arduous to beat in his personal field, he additionally has one thing Gabriel-like about him. In response to Mattinson, he has a “dominating” presence from set-pieces, including to the younger defender’s attraction.
There may be little that the Rennes sensation, described by Mattinson as “frighteningly gifted”, can not do. There’s quite a bit to love in regards to the 20-year-old, who comes from the identical academy as PSG celebrity Desiree Douye.
If Arsenal can land him for the low value of £35 million, they’ll have Europe’s subsequent prime centre-back prepared and ready to interchange Saliba.
