Arsenal are in the market for defensive cover – and could bring in a top wingback for a bargain
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Arsenal could bring in a wingback who's scored six times this season – and they have an ace up their sleeve to sign him.
The Gunners brought in Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna last summer for around £20 million and the Japanese international was a revelation in the first half of the season, offering physicality, two-footedness and positional discipline to make Mikel Arteta's side rock-solid defensively.
But the 23-year-old has been absent for practically the second half of the season with a thigh injury, leaving the covering job up to Cedric Soares – hence Arteta's desire for another right-back to join.
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Both CalcioStyle and Messaggero Veneto have reported that Arsenal have entered Serie A waters once more to bring in a defender, with reported interest in Udinese man, Nahuel Molina.
Molina has been an offensive threat this season for I Bianconeri, which could offer a different kind of profile to the more measured Tomiyasu as first choice. The 24-year-old is thought to be valued by his employers at £25m – but Arteta and director Edu are hoping that they can reduce that price significantly.
Arsenal centre-back Pablo Mari is currently on loan at the Stadio Friuli but with the Brazilian interested in extending his stay in Italy, Arsenal could offer their defender as part of a swap deal.
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Arsenal signed Mari in Arteta's first transfer window after taking over, with the Spaniard keen on adding a left-footed central defender to his squad. The 28-year-old has since been phased out in favour of the more mobile, aggressive Gabriel.
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Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
