Arteta's 8-man centre-back dilemma will force Arsenal boss to be ruthless

HOW many centre-backs does Mikel Arteta think he needs?

Arsenal in the late-Arsene Wenger era - and throughout Emery’s tenure - had a deserved reputation for a vulnerable defensive core.

Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions on his hands over his defence

Arsenal have too many defenders on the books and need to move on from at least four

For fans accustomed to Steve Bould and Tony Adams or Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure at the end of the last century and the beginning of this, such weakness was hard to take.

It's even harder when the frailties where obvious to fans, media and other managers - and yet season on season were not addressed.

As we all wonder if and when Arsenal - and the Premier League - might return, Arteta must be contemplating what to do when the transfer window does arrive, during his recovery.

After all, the Spaniard has an abundance of centre-backs at his disposal.

Arteta’s coaching has clearly improved the Gunners' defending with the boss allowing individuals to play to their strengths.

On top of that, the back-line has shown enhanced communication and more positional discipline.

Despite this improvement, I suspect he is still having to compromise on the high line style he would like to deploy due to the age and lack of pace at his disposal.

Whilst Pablo Mari, chosen by Arteta, has impressed in two matches, the Spaniard is not the quickest and would need a fleet of foot partner.

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If Arsenal do exercise their option to buy him, he could be a logical left-footed foil for William Saliba, who is arriving when this season concludes.

The club seemed to have made it clear Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi are available this summer - and both might bring in much needed funds to strengthen.

This still leaves Arteta with Calum Chambers, who impressed pre-injury, and cannot be sold for that reason.

Also on the books are Rob Holding - undoubtedly talented but struggling to find his form since his ACL injury - and Konstatinos Mavopanos, impressing on loan in Germany, albeit in the second tier.

And of course there's his senior pro; the vastly improved David Luiz.

Without Champions League football on offer, attracting Dayot Upamecano, the player most fans seem to want to see, will be difficult.

So Arteta will need to make tough decisions on who he wants to keep and who to sell before being able to add further.

Arsenal centre-backs: who stays and who goes?

STAYS

William Saliba

David Luiz

Pablo Mari

Calum Chambers

GOES

Rob Holding

Konstantinos Mavropanos

Shkodran Mustafi

Sokratis Papastathopoulos

It will be a busy window, whenever it comes... and for my money, Luiz, Saliba, Mari and Chambers will all be at Arsenal in 2020-21 - while the other four won't.

Many fans will be sorry to see Holding leave but tough decisions need to be made.

If Arteta wants his new team to play a style similar to the glory days of old, one more pacey centre-back must be the top transfer target.

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