As impressive as the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes is, there would be nothing better for Arsenal than signing another Tottenham Hotspur captain.
Once upon a time, it was Sol Campbell who arrived before becoming a Gunners legend. Now, it could be Cristian Romero who follows in his footsteps.
The World Cup-winning defender certainly looks on his way out of Spurs. The only question that remains is who secures his signature. On that front, it looked like a battle between Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan was unfolding before Arsenal continued to linger.
The rumours are refusing to go away and there’s no doubt that the Gunners would have the complete list of options in their backline if they welcomed Romero.
|
Arsenal’s potential Centre-back depth 26/27 |
Role |
Strengths |
What they offer Arsenal |
|---|---|---|---|
|
William Saliba |
First-choice RCB |
Pace, recovery defending, composure, 1v1 defending |
Arsenal’s standout right-sided centre-back. His ability to defend large spaces allows the Gunners to maintain a high line and play aggressively. |
|
Gabriel Magalhães |
First-choice LCB |
Physicality, aerial ability, aggression, set pieces |
Provides power and authority on the left side. A major threat from corners and extremely difficult to beat physically. |
|
Piero Hincapié |
LCB/CB cover |
Ball carrying, pace, versatility, left-footed passing |
Gives Mikel Arteta a mobile left-sided option who can also operate at left-back. His ability to progress the ball adds another dimension to Arsenal’s build-up. |
|
Cristhian Mosquera |
RCB/CB cover |
Speed, strength, composure, defensive positioning |
A younger option capable of stepping into the starting XI. His athleticism makes him particularly useful when Arsenal defend with a high line. |
|
Cristian Romero* |
Potential RCB addition |
Aggression, passing, front-foot defending, leadership |
Would add experience and a more aggressive defensive personality. Romero could compete with Saliba for the RCB role while giving Arsenal another elite-level option for big games. |
|
Jurriën Timber |
CB/RB hybrid |
Intelligence, technique, mobility, 1v1 defending |
Gives Arsenal tactical flexibility. He can play centrally or move into the full-back role while remaining comfortable in possession. |
|
Ben White |
CB/RB hybrid |
Passing, positioning, composure, versatility |
A reliable squad option who can fill in centrally when required and provides Arsenal with another experienced defensive option. |
With William Saliba set to miss the start of the season, now would be the perfect time to sign a player of Romero’s calibre. It would be one of the most shocking transfers of the summer, but would sum up Arsenal’s new-found position on the throne of English football.
Some will be quick to point out how rash Romero was last season and how he contributed to a side which only avoided relegation on the final day of the season. However, it wasn’t so long ago that Gabriel was rash in a similar way. Now, he’s one of the best centre-backs in Europe.
Mikel Arteta can transform Romero in similar fashion. The Spaniard can channel his aggression and passion into something more positive than recklessness, all whilst getting one over on Spurs. It would be a dream deal.
Arteta personally driving Arsenal’s Cristian Romero move
According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arteta is personally driving Arsenal’s Romero move and the Gunners are now preparing an offer.
If the Gunners want to sign the defender, then they can reportedly trigger his £55m release clause which is available for Premier League clubs. That would mean paying more than €40m (£34m) that Spurs have demanded from other clubs, but it would likely make any deal all the more routine.
It would allow Arsenal to bypass their rivals entirely and move straight onto personal terms. Previous reports have also indicated that Romero is open to the move, which hands Arteta another boost.