Arsenal are about to make some amends to their backline even though they had the best defence in the Premier League last season.
Mikel Arteta’s side only conceded 29 goals last season, but they still lost out to Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
Even though fans would argue that their defence isn’t their priority this summer, Arsenal’s first signing is expected to be Riccardo Calafiori.
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Darren Bent is already excited by that deal, with the 22-year-old able to play at centre-half and left-back, even if Fabio Capello thinks it’s a ‘shame’ Calafiori hasn’t joined Juventus.
But for the Italy star to come in, someone currently at the club needs to head for the exit door and there has been a lot of talk about Jakub Kiwior‘s future.
The Poland international improved immensely last season and put in a string of top performances at left-back, including against Liverpool and away at Manchester City.
But with Calafiori coming in, Bent wants a player like Kiwior to ‘stay’ because he showed signs that he is a ‘top left-back’ for Arsenal.
Instead, the former Premier League striker, who is a boyhood Arsenal fan, wants Oleksandr Zinchenko to leave and be replaced by Calafiori, as he told talkSPORT (08/07/24 at 4:40 pm).
Zinchenko put in ‘catastrophic’ displays at Euro 2024 this summer, as Ukraine suffered a group stage exit, and in truth, his club form hasn’t been great, either.
Arsenal urged to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko instead of Jakub Kiwior
“That’s one area, I think left-back was always an issue,” said Bent. “I know Timber has come back, but Zinchenko, he would probably be the one who I would allow to leave.
“Keep Jakub Kiwior because I think Kiwior last season should signs that he could be a top left-back for Arsenal.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s time is up at Arsenal
When Zinchenko first joined Arsenal from Manchester City in a £32 million transfer deal (Sky Sports), it excited the Arsenal fanbase.
Not many can deny that he performed and helped take the team to the next level in his first full season at the club.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard lauds ‘improvement’ of player Arsenal sold who is his team’s ‘main man’ at Euro 2024
But since then, things have started to go a little array and Zinchenko can no longer be trusted at left-back.
When Zinchenko first came in, he was the only one who could play that inverted role, but now Arsenal have Jurrien Timber, who is returning from a long-term injury and can play that role, and Calafiori ahead of his expected arrival.
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