Arsenal’s Latest Transfer Meeting Has Chelsea On High Alert

Arsenal have pretty much already secured the signing of defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer as a likely replacement for Thomas Partey. Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and former Real Sociedad stars Mikel Merino and playmaker Martin Odegaard should form the bedrock of the best midfield in the Premier League.

But Arsenal still have to move for a No. 9 who can put away the chances that the midfield, especially Odegaard, and world-class right winger Bukayo Saka produce in the 2025/26 season.

Beyond a new striker, which has been a key need for the Gunners for years, Arsenal still seem to want to beef up a defense that added some impressive players recently in Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and homegrown prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Their latest transfer target appears to be Jorrel Hato, who is atop the wishlist of most elite European clubs with some sort of a need for a left back. Arsenal brought in Calafiori, but they are looking for more cover on the left side.

According to a report from journalist Gianluigi Longari, Arsenal have decided to accelerate transfer talks for Hato in order to beat out bitter London rivals Chelsea to the left back, who would be an immediate challenger to Marc Cucurella as the starter at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea need defensive help more than Arsenal

Although Arsenal spent a pretty penny to sign Calafiori from Bologna last summer after his breakout European Championship tournament for an otherwise woeful Italy, Calafiori’s injury woes in his first season at the Emirates were a reminder that the Gunners should pursue more cover at the position.

Hato recorded six assists last season for Ajax with 1.9 tackles per game and just 0.3 dribbles completed allowed. That’s an elite ratio of tackles won to dribbles allowed for a left back, especially in a league with a lot of free-running one-on-one wingers like the Dutch Eredivisie where attacking prowess is emphasized.

There’s no doubt that Hato is a special prospect at left back at the age of 19. Whereas Calafiori is a center back who can play at left back, Hato is a left back who can play at center back, making him a challenger to both Calafiori and Lewis-Skelly for starts at the position.

Arsenal know the importance of depth, and they also know the importance of taking signings away from Chelsea. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have similar needs this summer at striker and in defense, except the Blues need defensive help a lot more than the Gunners, who already have one of the world’s best center back pairings and quality starters at every position.

The Gunners pushing harder for Hato should have Chelsea worried, and that will likely increase the amount of interest that Enzo Maresca and Co. show in the 19-year-old Ajax star.