Do Arsenal need to sign a right-back in the summer transfer window even if Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles depart and leave only Cedric and Calum Chambers left? (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The question over whether Arsenal need to sign a right-back in the summer transfer window is a simple yes or no one. Mikel Arteta currently has three at the club, with each fixture capable of seeing any one of them earn a starting spot.
Calum Chambers has come out of nowhere. Returning from a long-term injury to play in the Europa League obviously adds to the emergence, but in a conversation about performance, he’s making a strong claim for a starting berth.
Signed as a right-back and moved to central defence on occasion, the Englishman has also been utilised in midfield at Fulham, with the versatility factor always beneficial in the debate over whether someone is a worthwhile member of any given squad.
Battling his way back from injury but being unable to dislodge anyone in the starting lineup, all signs pointed towards a summer sale. Another homegrown player seemingly destined for the exit door, albeit expected at a decent price given his profile.
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Will Arsenal actually sign a right-back in the summer transfer window even if Hector Bellerin leaves?
Two solid outings against Burnley and West Ham have changed the scope of the conversation, with his deliveries into the box earning widespread praise just as they were used as another tool to criticise the other options at the boss’s disposal.
Alongside Chambers is Cedric Soares, who has been rewarded for some great form with a call-up to the Portugal national side, where he even registered an assist on his return to international duty. His performances fully merited his selection by Fernando Santos.
Then there is Hector Bellerin, who falls into the well-known bracket at Arsenal of being a divisive figure: is he terrible or is he just unfairly singled out? The latter point exists but coincides with an unmissable drop off.
Enjoying a fine patch of form earlier in the season, his performances have dipped. Mikel Arteta opted to leave him out of the squad entirely to face West Ham for reasons thought to be tactical. A summer departure feels inevitable for the long-serving defender. Thus, a replacement is needed.
Or is it?
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<h2>Will Arsenal actually sign a right-back in the summer transfer window even if Hector Bellerin leaves?</h2>
<p>Two solid outings against Burnley and West Ham have changed the scope of the conversation, with his deliveries into the box earning widespread praise just as they were used as another tool to criticise the other options at the boss’s disposal.</p>
<p>Alongside Chambers is Cedric Soares, who has been rewarded for some great form with a call-up to the Portugal national side, where he even registered an assist on his return to international duty. His performances fully merited his selection by Fernando Santos.</p>
<p>Then there is <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/125211/Show/Héctor-Bellerín" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hector Bellerin</a>, who falls into the well-known bracket at Arsenal of being a divisive figure: is he terrible or is he just unfairly singled out? The latter point exists but coincides with an unmissable drop off.</p>
<p>Enjoying a fine patch of form earlier in the season, his performances have dipped. Mikel Arteta opted to leave him out of the squad entirely to face West Ham for reasons thought to be tactical. A summer departure feels inevitable for the long-serving defender. Thus, a replacement is needed.</p>
<p>Or is it?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Does Hector Bellerin need replacing? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-113580" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1231165671-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Cedric Soares" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s German-born Portuguese defender Cedric Soares (R) congratulates Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin after he scores his team’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leeds United. (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Will Hector Bellerin be Replaced by Arsenal?</h2>
<p>Arsenal fans are known for having lifetime pass for the hype train. It’s commonplace across football but the main station would be situated somewhere in Islington if it wasn’t completely made up.</p>
<p>Chambers’ two good performances have brought him back into first team contention, and while impressive showings are rightly heralded, it’s yet to be seen over a longer run of matches. Cedric is a <em>good </em>backup option that can certainly be upgraded if we’re looking at areas of improvement across the first XI, but he’s still first choice in most supporters’ eyes.</p>
<p>Can Arsenal do better? <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/09/arsenal-chelsea-hakimi-transfer-inter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">They absolutely can</a>, and, tactically, none of the two have proven themselves to be the auxiliary central midfield option with bags of technical ability that Arteta is after; Chambers has obviously played as a defensive midfielder but the demands differ from this role; Cedric has shown <em>signs</em> of encapsulating the tactics Arteta wants, and that may sway his decision.</p>
<p>Looking at how to take Arsenal to the next level starts with seeing which areas of the squad can be improved. Right-back is one of them. The signing of someone like Tariq Lamptey or Emerson Royal would add diversity in attacking phases for Arsenal, while defensively there is stability there.</p>
<p>However, with limited funding it wouldn’t be surprising to see Arsenal not sign a right-back in the summer, even if Bellerin leaves and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/02/01/arsenal-maitland-niles-west-brom-loan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who won’t come back and play</a> in that position again, joins him.</p>
<p>Regardless of European qualification for next season, Arsenal look set to throw their eggs into the Martin Odegaard basket with another central midfielder, left-back and striker also high up the list. Financially they won’t be able to satisfy all of their needs, and working their way down if corners need to be cut it may well be at right-back.</p>
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<p>Should Chambers continue to impress – Cafu, sorry – and Cedric uses his international outings as a springboard for a strong finish to the season, an outcome where that pair take Arsenal into the start of the season wouldn’t be unheard of.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
