“I Expect That To Be Addressed” – Arsenal Legend Wants Arteta To Strengthen Right-Back Berth

Nigel Winterburn wants the right-back position to be strengthened…

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has urged Mikel Arteta to strengthen the right-back position this summer after being unconvinced by the current options we have in that department, GentingBet reports.

Arteta has juggled his options at right-back in recent weeks with the likes of Cedric Soares, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers all sharing the berth.

The manager also sanctioned the loan move that saw Ainsley Maitland-Niles join West Brom in January after the England international filled in at right-back on a few occasions.

We’ve been linked with a plethora of right-backs since January with Winterburn claiming that points to the idea that Arteta may not be satisfied with his options in that position.

We’re said to be looking at Tariq Lamptey of Brighton and Inter’s Achraf Hakimi which gives the impression that Arteta is looking for more dynamism and attacking intent in that role.

“The right-back position is the interesting one at Arsenal,” Winterburn was quoted as saying.

“When you look at the switching of players in that position, you can see that Arteta isn’t comfortable with who he has so I expect that to be addressed in the summer. 

“Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Hakimi and Lamptey. Whether they’re good enough or not for the club can only be decided once they’ve played 20-30 games,” the former Gunners left-back added.

Given that Arteta’s still in his first full season as Arsenal boss and has only operated in one summer transfer window, we can’t be sure as to who he sees having a future at the club.

Trimming the squad and the wage bill has been the ultimate goal for Arteta and Edu since his arrival which indicates that we’re some way away from seeing this squad being shaped in the manager’s image.

Having said that, his tinkering nature when picking a right-back indicates that while all three options bring something to the table, they may not possess everything he’s looking for in a full-back.