Former footballers Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil have identified a player they believe can step in to replace Gabriel Magalhães in the Arsenal squad.
Magalhães has sustained a hamstring injury which is expected to rule him out for the remainder of Arsenal’s season. The Brazilian centre-back picked up the injury during the Gunners’ match against Fulham on Tuesday.
He is set to undergo surgery, and his absence in the defensive line will undoubtedly pose a concern for manager Mikel Arteta. Arsenal have boasted the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, having conceded just 25 goals—the fewest in the competition.
With Magalhães sidelined, his defensive partner, William Saliba, will require a new partner for the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil suggested that Ben White could step into the role.
Parlour said, “Look at Ben White. I don’t know what the problem is with Ben White. He’s played at centre-half as well, so you know he’s capable in that position.”
Parlour urged Arteta to consider redeploying White in central defence, a view Brazil also endorsed.
While White usually features as a right-back, he has demonstrated his versatility on numerous occasions and may now be called upon to help stabilise Arsenal’s back line in Magalhães’s absence.
