William Saliba’s back injury has forced Arsenal into dipping into the transfer market for a centre-back.
Ezri Konsa is being eyed as the ideal reinforcement but Aston Villa’s £60million valuation is far above what Arsenal are willing to pay.
Another option that has been mooted is Konsa’s England teammate John Stones, who is available on a free transfer after he was released by Manchester City this summer.
Stones won every major honour available to him during his decade-long stint at the Etihad.
How do you think John Stones would fare at Arsenal in place of the injured William Saliba?
When fit, he is still one of the best Premier League centre-backs around and it’s easy to see why Mikel Arteta would be keen on adding such experience to his ranks.
But Arsenal fans may want to remind themselves what Stones said about the Gunners back in 2024.
What John Stones said about Arsenal after 2-2 draw with Manchester City
Speaking after Manchester City celebrated a 2-2 draw against Arsenal, Stones was asked about the Gunners’ playing style.
“I don’t know if they have mastered it, they’ve done it for a few years, and we know to expect that,” he said. “You can call it clever, or dirty, whichever way you want to put it.
“They break up the game, and it upsets the rhythm for everyone. I thought we dealt with it really well.
“It’s not easy when those things are happening, and you’re trying to gain momentum, you’re trying to get a foot in the game and get above them. Those little stoppages stop that.”
Man City have been Arsenal’s main title rivals for the past few years now, and Stones calling the Gunners a ‘dirty’ side is part of that.
But football has a short memory, and fans would surely not hold that against the defender were he to join.
This is a player Arteta has worked with before, and he will understand the demands of the role in this particular system. He is exactly the sort of cover they need while Saliba is out.
A free transfer, even with high wages, is considerably more palatable than £60million for Konsa. The main concern would be keeping Stones fit.
And once Saliba returns, Stones would naturally drop into a rotation role, which, at 32, he may well accept.
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