Riccardo Calafiori is set to become the latest addition in defence for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
Since he took over as manager back in 2019, the club have bolstered, changed and ultimately improved their back line, with the Gunners conceding the fewest number of goals in the Premier League last season.
Here’s how Arsenal grew into one of the best defensive teams in the world…
Early days
First game back four: Maitland-Niles, David Luiz, Sokratis, Saka
Arteta’s first game in charge, a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, saw a very young Bukayo Saka feature at left-back – the only player of that back line to remain at the club today.
January defensive signings: Pablo Mari (loan), Cedric Soares (loan)
FA Cup final back five: Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Maitland-Niles
Arteta reached the FA Cup final in his first season in charge and lifted the trophy after beating London rivals Chelsea 2-1. He opted for three central defenders in Rob Holding, David Luiz and Kieran Tierney, with Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as the wing-backs, but changes would soon follow…
Goals conceded in Premier League: 48
Second season in charge
Main defensive signings: Gabriel, Pablo Mari, Cedric Soares
Main defensive departures: Konstantinos Mavropanos (loan), Said Kolasinac (loan), Sokratis, Shkrodan Mustafi, William Saliba (loan), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (loan)
The summer of 2020 saw Arteta add one of the crucial pieces of his time in charge, Brazilian defender Gabriel, who joined from Lille and has since gone on to become one of Arsenal’s most important players. Arteta did not add to his back line in January but it was a month that saw plenty of departures in defence, including the permanent exits of Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi, while Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles headed out on loan as Arteta looked to shape his defence into his own vision. A young William Saliba would also head out on loan to get some valuable experience.
Favoured starting goalkeeper and defence: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz/Holding, Gabriel, Tierney
Goals conceded in Premier League: 39
Arteta’s third season
Main defensive signings: Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares
Main defensive departures: David Luiz, William Saliba (loan), Hector Bellerin (loan), Maitland-Niles (loan), Kolasinac (loan), Chambers, Mari (loan)
The summer of 2021 would see Arteta’s plan for his defence really start to take shape. Ben White arrived from Brighton in a £50m deal while versatile Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu joined from Bologna. Arteta also opted to make a change in goal, snapping up Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United to replace the experienced Bernd Leno. That had to result in exits, with former regulars like Luiz, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles and Mari all departing that season either permanently or on loan. Despite the changes, though, Arsenal’s defensive record worsened, which perhaps encouraged Arteta to make further alterations and give an opportunity to a young Frenchman…
Starting goalkeeper and defence: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu/Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney/Tavares
Goals conceded in Premier League: 48
Title challenge and Saliba’s chance
Main defensive signings: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior
Main defensive departures: Bernd Leno, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari (loan), Nuno Tavares (loan), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (loan)
The 2022/23 campaign would see Saliba finally afforded his chance by Arteta after spending three successive loan spells back in France. He would quickly establish himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League and, along with an upgrade at left-back with the addition of Zinchenko from Man City, would help his side concede the fourth fewest goals in the league and improve at the back compared with the previous year as the Gunners went close to winning the title.
Starting goalkeeper and defence: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Goals conceded in Premier League: 43
Last season and another title challenge
Main defensive signings: David Raya, Jurrien Timber
Main defensive departures: Pablo Mari, Kieran Tierney (loan), Rob Holding (loan), Nuno Tavares (loan), Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Somewhat surprisingly, Arteta opted for a change of goalkeeper with David Raya arriving from Brentford and quickly displacing Ramsdale who had won plaudits for his performances during the prior campaign. But it helped the Gunners concede a league fewest 29 goals all season in the Premier League. Frustratingly, new signing Jurrien Timber was injured in the first game of the season and missed almost the entire year but with Timber’s return and the incoming addition of Calafiori, could Arsenal improve on their already stellar defence this coming season?
Starting goalkeeper and defence: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko/Tomiyasu/Kiwior
Goals conceded in Premier League: 29
FEATURED IMAGE: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images VIA ONE FOOTBALL
