With Bacary Sagna seemingly set to leave Arsenal, the club have been linked with numerous replacements, from Dani Alves to Micah Richards.

There are differing schools of thought as to what Arsenal need-a long-term replacement for the Frenchman, or a player who can challenge/back up Carl Jenkinson, who’s been much improved this season.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal will attempt to sign Dortmund’s 27-year-old right-back Łukasz Piszczek in the summer. There’s no fee mooted or any real source, but it’s an excellent excuse to look into what Arsenal should be looking for in the summer.

Experience vs Potential

Carl Jenkinson certainly has a long-term future at Arsenal, whether that is as first-choice or as a backup remains to be seen. The England international (hee) impressed covering for Sagna’s injury and when rotated, but whenever Sagna is available he seems to take the starting berth. Is this because Wenger trusts Sagna or doesn’t trust Jenkinson?

It would seem unusual that Jenkinson not be trusted, as he’s managed to recover well from moments that would destroy another player’s confidence, like his red card against Sunderland.

Sagna was (and still attempts to be) a flying right-back in his prime, attacking just as well as he defended. Right now he’s not as fast as he was, and Theo Walcott’s irritating tendency to stand stock still in the middle of the pitch rather than play out wide has meant his overlapping has been replaced by, err, lapping.

Jenkinson is an excellent crosser, though rather more conservative in his play. That’s not an issue, it just means Arsenal will require more from their wide man *coughs at Theo* in attacking terms. There’s talk of him being backed up by the promoted Hector Bellerin, who’s far more of an attacking threat, though extremely raw.

Both players aren’t the finished article, and it’s entirely possible they could both suffer a loss of confidence and form at the same time. What you really need there is a player to come in and do a decent job. A bit like Bacary Sagna.

Piszczek is 27, only two years younger than Sagna, and would represent a player that would challenge Jenkinson without necessarily pinning down a starting spot. But is it worth paying what could be around £10m for a placeholder? Alternatively, could Sagna be persuaded to stay for the last year of his contract, as long as he accepts reduced playing time?

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