Arsenal have been dealt a blow, as Mainz have no intention of selling Abdou Diallo this month, and feel confident that he’ll make the right decision to stay.

Diallo has been linked with the club as a potential January target, but a move looks unlikely this month. Mainz manager Sandro Schwarz has said that he’s not worried about the 21-year-old leaving them mid-season.

“I’m really zero-thinking about this subject, I am not afraid that Abdou will leave us again!” he said, as reported by Tribal Football. “He’s smart enough to know the next step for his development – the decision is made. He will not leave out of impatience!”

Diallo only joined Mainz from Monaco last summer. He’s been a regular in the Bundesliga, but perhaps needs more first-team experience before making the step-up to Arsenal.

We already have three young defenders at the club in Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Konstantinos Mavropanos. To add another one at this stage would surely give us one too many options.

We seem to have stockpiled a number of centre-backs. Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi appear to be first-choice. Per Mertesacker has come in as a back-up, while Nacho Monreal has also featured there a lot, especially in a back three.

Altogether, we’ve used six centre-backs this season, and now have a seventh option in Mavropanos. Diallo remaining at Mainz and gaining more first-team experience may just be for the best.