Martin Keown on Arsenal's Centre-Back Situation: No Need for Panic
Martin Keown insists Arsenal do not need to rush into the market for a new centre-back, even with William Saliba facing a significant spell on the sidelines.
The France defender aggravated a back problem at the World Cup and is set to miss a chunk of the season, a blow for a back line built so heavily around his partnership with Gabriel. The injury has inevitably triggered a wave of transfer links – and plenty of anxiety among supporters – but Keown is not joining the calls for a defensive signing.
Keown backs Mosquera and Salmon
Arsenal have been linked with a string of central defenders, including former Tottenham captain Cristian Romero before his move to Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah. The club are clearly scanning the market. Keown, though, has seen enough in pre-season to believe Mikel Arteta already has the answers in-house.
Speaking to football.london at TNT Sports’ “Levels” Trophy Cabinet pop-up in London, the former Invincibles defender picked out Cristhian Mosquera and teenager Marli Salmon as the key reasons he would hold fire.
“Salmon looked really good in the friendly game against Como, he's progressing nicely,” Keown said. “Mosquera for me also looked really sharp in that match. I don't think there's a necessity to buy a central defender, I think that's an area they can cope with.”
That confidence is rooted in versatility as much as raw talent. Arsenal’s recruitment has stocked Arteta’s squad with defenders who can slide across the line and keep the left-right balance intact.
“I'm hearing that they are being linked with various central defenders so maybe they want to strengthen in that area [but] defending-wise, [Riccardo] Calafiori can also pop into there, [Piero] Hincapie can do that. All left-footed. So that area looks particularly strong for Arsenal.”
Replacing Saliba–Gabriel? “Mosquera starts the season”
Losing Saliba is not just about losing an individual. It disrupts one of the most stable and imposing centre-back pairings in the league. Keown knows better than most how important those relationships are.
“[Arsenal will miss] the combination they’ve got, because those two players (Saliba and Gabriel) really enjoy playing with one another,” he admitted.
Yet he does not see a void. He sees an opening.
“Although Mosquera, I think after four minutes he came on at Anfield last year and showed us how good he was, and he's even better in pre-season this year so I think Saliba is not available, he starts the season.”
Mosquera, 22, made 20 league appearances last season and earned a senior Spain debut on the back of his form. Those minutes, and his assured cameos in recent friendlies, have convinced Keown that Arsenal can absorb Saliba’s absence without tearing up their defensive plan.
Calm over Lewis-Skelly interest
At the other end of the pitch, another of Arsenal’s young talents has attracted attention. Myles Lewis-Skelly has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, yet Keown is not sounding any alarm bells there either.
The England youth international featured – and scored – in the midweek friendly against Como, a timely reminder of his value just as speculation swirls. Arsenal have already seen him step forward from full-back into midfield late last season, and the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes only sharpens the competition in that area.
Keown’s view is simple: if Arsenal are serious about another title push, they will need every one of these players available and contributing. The transfer noise does not change that.
“You’ve got to go and win it again”
Arsenal head into the new campaign as champions, but Keown rejects any idea of a defensive mindset. For him, this is not about clinging to what they have.
“You’ve got to go and win it again, it’s not about defending it,” he said. “You're very proud of winning it but maybe this now opens up a door for confidence, for the handbrake to come off a bit, to believe in themselves.”
The landscape around them is shifting. Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League has loosened after years of dominance, and the dugouts across the division look very different.
“Because obviously Man City had a stranglehold on the Premier League for quite a few years, but there have been some huge changes now with all the new managers coming in.
“Arteta is now probably one of the most secure managers in the Premier League and has probably been there longer than almost anybody else. Finishing in second place on three occasions and then winning it so they really are in good form to go and [win it again].”
For Keown, that stability, that belief, and that growing depth at the back mean Arsenal do not need to panic about Saliba. They need to trust what they have built – and see if this group can go and rip the title away from the rest all over again.
