Arsenal's Roma Obsession: Is Huijsen *Really* the Answer?

Look, Arsenal needs a right-back. We all know Ben White’s future isn't entirely clear, especially after the England snub and those whispers about his availability. Mikel Arteta wants options, and frankly, he needs someone who can actually hold down that spot for 90 minutes against a top-tier winger without looking lost. So, it makes sense the Gunners are sniffing around. The latest name making the rounds: Dean Huijsen, the 19-year-old Dutch center-back currently on loan at Roma from Juventus.

Here's the thing: Huijsen is a central defender. A good one, for a kid his age. He’s made 10 appearances for Roma since joining them in January, even bagging two goals – one against Cagliari in a 4-0 win, another against Frosinone in a 3-0 rout. That’s impressive for a defender. He’s got size, 6-foot-5, and he’s comfortable on the ball. But shifting him to right-back in the Premier League? That feels like Arteta trying to force a square peg into a round hole, a habit that’s burned him before. Remember Takehiro Tomiyasu’s early days at left-back? Or Leandro Trossard sometimes playing as a false nine? It works in flashes, but rarely for a full season.

**Arteta's Defensive Tinkering: A Risky Bet**

Arsenal's transfer strategy under Arteta and Edu has been, let’s call it, "flexible." They’ve often signed players who *can* play multiple positions, rather than out-and-out specialists. Jurrien Timber, for example, was brought in last summer for £34 million, capable of playing center-back or full-back, but a serious ACL injury just 50 minutes into his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest sidelined him for most of the season. Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba are the undisputed center-back pairing, forming the bedrock of a defense that’s conceded just 29 goals in 37 league matches this season – the best in the league. So, Huijsen isn't coming in to start at center-back.

That leaves right-back. White has played 36 league games this season, but his form has dipped. His defensive positioning can be suspect, and his attacking output, while decent, isn't what you'd call game-changing. Huijsen, despite his talent, is raw. He's only played two senior games for Juventus before his Roma loan. Asking a teenager, whose natural position is central defense, to immediately step into the high-octane role of a Premier League right-back, especially one expected to contribute to Arsenal's intricate attacking patterns, is a massive ask. It’s not just about defending; it’s about understanding the nuances of the inverted full-back role, the overlapping runs, the link-up play with Bukayo Saka.

Roma’s manager, Daniele De Rossi, has clearly rated him, giving him significant minutes in Serie A and the Europa League. The kid can play. He even scored for Juventus’ U19s against Benfica U19s in the UEFA Youth League back in October 2022. But playing against Cagliari is a different beast than trying to contain Phil Foden or Kaoru Mitoma. I think Arsenal should pump the brakes on making Huijsen their primary right-back solution. He's a fantastic prospect, no doubt, but he feels more like a long-term center-back option or a project player.

My hot take? Arsenal will sign Huijsen, and he'll spend most of next season either on the bench or playing cup games, struggling to adapt to the full-back role. They’ll still be looking for a proper right-back come January.