Celtic’s January transfer business was chaotic, to say the least.
From Wilfried Nancy being at the helm at the start of the month to Martin O’Neill swooping in, there was a lot of movement, including a change at the heart of defence.
Celtic signed Benjamin Arthur from Brentford on deadline day, after allowing Stephen Welsh to return to Motherwell and also cutting short Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s season-long loan.
But will Arthur feature for the champions of Scotland this season? Si Ferry doesn’t think so, as he explained on Open Goal.
Does Benjamin Arthur have enough quality to make an impact for Celtic?
Benjamin Arthur won’t play for Celtic this season
Ferry was baffled by the fact that Celtic had Welsh on board, yet allowed him to leave when he felt he was worthy of playing for the Hoops.
Of course, in typical Celtic style, Welsh would score against Rangers in midweek, on his return to Fir Park and dented their title hopes.
But whilst Ferry thinks Arthur won’t see the light of day, the rest of the Open Goal panel, including James McFadden, thinks the Bhoys have too many games for the Englishman not to feature.
Si Ferry: “See when you see Stephen Welsh play (for Motherwell against Rangers), and they have signed the boy from Brentford. And Stephen Welsh has gone to Motherwell.
Gordon Dalziel: “But we haven’t seen the boy, have we? So, you have got to give him the boy a bit of a (chance).”
Ferry: “You won’t see him. He won’t play a minute.”
Dalziel: “It will be interesting.”
James McFadden: “Aye, he will. You just mentioned the games (packed schedule). You are going to have to use him at some point.”
Dalziel: “You will probably see him at some point.”
Where does Arthur rank among current Celtic centre-backs?
It’s pretty clear that Liam Scales and Auston Trusty are Celtic’s starting centre-backs.
From O’Neill’s first spell in charge to now, that’s what he has continued to do, and you suspect that won’t change.
Unfortunately for Celtic, Cameron Carter-Vickers won’t return again this season, so that leaves Dane Murray as the other centre-back option, alongside Arthur.
- Liam Scales
- Auston Trusty
- Dane Murray
- Benjamin Arthur
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