Throughout what has been a very successful preseason for Arsenal much of the focus has been on their attack. The arrival of Gabriel Jesus has revolutionised the Gunners' frontline, and with a multitude of unpredictable combinations available up top Mikel Arteta 's men were able to notch up 26 goals in just seven matches. Less attention has been paid to their backline, however.
Arsenal have conceded just six times in preseason and the addition of William Saliba has played a huge part in that. The Frenchman has looked unflappable in his opening few games after returning from his loan with Marseille and has been described by Arteta as "ready" to make the step up to Premier League level.
As the Gunners prepare for their opening fixture against Crystal Palace on Friday though, this also creates an interesting dilemma at right back. Technically the club are stuffed with options in the position. Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are still at the club, while Reuell Walters has impressed in preseason and Brooke Norton-Cuffy has turned heads during a loan spell at Lincoln City too. However, with the former pair likely to leave this summer and the latter unlikely to play consistently at first team level just yet, it would seem Arsenal have three realistic options in the position. Here football.london takes a look at them.
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Takehiro Tomiyasu
The Japanese international failed to play a minute in pre-season and wasn't even able to train with the group who travelled to the USA as he continues to recover from his latest injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu was sublime in the first part of last season, but is far from the nailed-on starter he would have been had he not missed the entire back half of the campaign with calf and hamstring issues.
The 23-year-old's strengths are clear. Defensively he is sublime and when he is at his best there aren't too many wingers who can get past him. He is superb in the air too and ranked in the 98th percentile among Premier League full backs for aerial duels won last season. This cover enables Bukayo Saka to attack with more freedom on the right wing and also allowed Ben White to go on his line-breaking dribbles at will in the first part of last season.
Tomiyasu is also good in possession which enables him to come infield and contribute to the build-up in a manner perfectly suited to the inverted full back role that he has been asked to play. The Japan defender's two-footedness is also a useful tool when it comes to beating the opposition press. These skills enable Arsenal to push forward in the 2-3-5 set-up that Arteta wants from his side in possession.
Many would have viewed Tomiyasu as the signing of the season last year if it were not for his injury record. This is the main mark against his name when it comes to right back spot, and if he can overcome it consistently next season he will be in the mix for a start without a doubt. Arsenal are keen to ease him back, but having missed so long already, the 23-year won't want to wait too much more.
Ben White
It has been fascinating to watch White operate at right-back during the latter part of Arsenal's pre-season campaign. The England international missed the early games with a quad injury, but since returning to fitness he has left tactical nerds weak at the knees with his interpretation of the right-back role.
Like Tomiyasu, White has come infield most of the time where his ability on the ball has been allowed to shine. He has been just as willing to switch it out to Gabriel Martinelli on the left, play it through the middle to Martin Odegaard, or pass it down the line to Bukayo Saka on the right. New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko has also tucked in over on the left to enable the Gunners' two 'eights' in midfield to push up and this unpredictability in the build-up has made Arsenal a dangerous offensive prospect.
We saw hints of what White could do at right back in games last season, but without him in the middle Arsenal lost that ability to break the lines from the heart of defence. Now with Saliba in the squad they have a player capable of replicating this, leaving White as a far more palatable option on the right.
The slight risk with Ben White is his ability in the air if teams do try to switch it high to their left winger. Realistically though, the 24-year-old would fancy himself against many of the wingers he was up against when compared to his chances against some of the league's more aerially dominant centre forwards.
Cedric Soares
While White and Tomiyasu offer Arsenal the option of using an inverted full back, Cedric Soares gives them the opportunity to play in a totally different way. The Portuguese international is more of a traditional overlapping full back who is at his best when in the final third.
He was able to pick up two assists in just 180 minutes across pre-season as a reminder of what he's capable of. When overlapping Bukayo Saka in the second half of last season he was able to form an integral part of an attacking triangle with Martin Odegaard that carried Arsenal through their most consistently positive attacking spell of the season. Depending on the opposition the Gunners face, if Mikel Arteta decides he wants a more offensive approach down the right then Cedric is best equipped out of his three options to provide it.
He is also defensively sound and actually completed more tackles than White or Tomiyasu last season. He is a popular member of Arsenal's increasingly expanding Portuguese-speaking contingent of players too and at 30 years old is experienced and professional enough to be ready when called upon.
“The pre-season has been very positive and we had an excellent USA Tour," Cedric said to his press office. "The new players are connecting really well with the rest of the team and the squad is becoming a strong unit. Personally, I am very motivated after these last few games and I feel ready to help the team achieve their goals for this season."
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