Arsenal fans haven’t received much good news over the last month.
The Gunners are yet to sign anyone in this window apart from third-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and their top target, Morgan Rogers, has now ended up at Chelsea.
To make things worse, some of their players who went far at the World Cup are nowhere near fully fit ahead of the new season.
One such player is William Saliba, and Arsenal’s statement about their French defender could open the door for a signing like John Stones.
Arsenal fans, what’s your message to Mikel Arteta and Didier Deschamps for making William Saliba play with a broken back?
John Stones to Arsenal has become more likely after official William Saliba injury update
Arsenal released an official statement on their website on Wednesday, confirming that Saliba has suffered a back injury.
The Gunners defender has been playing through pain for quite some time, even though his issue was a very serious one.
Reports revealed that Saliba broke his back while playing for Arsenal and continued to feature for both club and country despite the injury.
Now, he is set for an extended period on the sidelines, but the good news is that he doesn’t require surgery, which means he shouldn’t be out for a long, long time.
The rumours are that Saliba will be out for three to four months, which means he will be unavailable until about November.
That, in our opinion, makes Arsenal’s move for Stones a lot more likely.
The Gunners don’t need a long-term solution in Saliba’s place; they just need someone to do a job until the Frenchman is back.
Stones makes perfect sense.
The England international is available on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City at the end of his contract last month. He had a decent World Cup with England as well.
How do you think John Stones would fare at Arsenal in place of the injured William Saliba?
Furthermore, Stones is vastly experienced in the Premier League, a proven winner and knows the Pep Guardiola way of playing out from the back, which also suits Arsenal’s system.
Injuries are a concern, yes, but Arsenal will have the luxury of rotating him with Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White to give him all the rest he needs.
Then, in November or even December, when Saliba is back, Stones’ leadership and winning mentality will benefit the Arsenal players massively, even when he is not on the pitch.
With the alternative being Ezri Konsa for £60 million, signing Stones to cover for Saliba is a no-brainer, and Andrea Berta should get this deal done immediately.
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