Arsenal need signings this summer and, based on the defeat to Atletico Madrid, a couple of them must be centre-backs.
Shkodran Mustafi has been consistently criticised in recent weeks at Arsenal, making a number of costly errors as the club have started 2018 without an away Premier League point.
And with Arsene Wenger now leaving the Emirates Stadium, Mustafi’s time at the Gunners is likely to come to an end under a new manager.
His latest error contributed to Atletico Madrid’s incredible 1-1 draw in London on Thursday, with the World Cup winner slipping at the vital moment and allowing Antoine Griezmann to fire into the net.
But the worry for Arsenal and their new manager is that Mustafi is not the only one; Laurent Koscielny looks very shaky, too.
It was the Frenchman who allowed compatriot Griezmann in in the first place and he, like his defensive partner, has regularly made errors this season.
Just a couple of years ago, Koscielny was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. There is no case to be made for him now.
And so, realistically, Arsenal need to sign two central defenders this summer. The club have enough issues bedding in a new manager and fixing their midfield problems, but this cannot wait.
Arsenal will not be able to challenge in the top four of the Premier League while these two remain as the primary pair at the back.
Wenger told a news conference ahead of the Atletico game that this side only needs two or three additions to compete for the title. Presumably a couple of those will be replacements for certainly Mustafi and perhaps Koscielny.
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