Arsenal have yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window, but the Gunners are expected to be busy as the window draws on.
football.london understands that manager Mikel Arteta is keen to sign a new goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker and potentially a wide forward too before deadline day on September 1.
With Premier League rivals already making big moves in the transfer market, Arsenal need to tie down some deals in order to keep pace with the ever-changing landscape at the top of the table and ensure they remain in contention for the biggest trophies.
If the Gunners do bring in five new players, however that could leave Arteta with a number of selection headaches.
Kepa Arrizabalaga looks set to sign in a £5million deal from Chelsea, while Martin Zubimendi will join the club from Real Sociedad in a deal worth £51million.
That’s two holes filled, that have been vacated by other players. Jorginho left at the end of his contract with the north Londoners, while Neto has returned to parent club Bournemouth following the end of his season-long loan spell. The problems come with any other signings that come through the door.
A striker is required – and has been for the past two transfer windows – to solve Arsenal’s problems in front of goal and to offer added strength in depth. Kai Havertz joined the club two years ago in a deal worth £65million, while Gabriel Jesus remains on the books and due to his injury, is unlikely to leave.
Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres or another striker that may well be linked, will fill a necessary hole, but it could lead to Jesus’ game time being even further limited.
A defender and wide forward are the real problems – albeit good problems for Arteta to have if he makes two more signings.
Jakub Kiwior filled in admirably when Gabriel Magalhaes was injured in the second half of last season, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko barely featured due to injuries. Jorrel Hato has been linked with a £40million move to north London, having been linked with the Gunners in the past too.
Rodrygo is the standout candidate when it comes to wide forwards being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium and the Real Madrid star would be something of a dream signing for the Gunners faithful.
He would go straight into the starting XI, given his quality, which would mean Gabriel Martinelli dropping out to the bench. That in turn limits the game time for the likes of Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri even further, if the Brazilian was then in front of them in the queue to come off the substitutes’ bench.
Arsenal, like every other Premier League club, can name a 25-man squad at the beginning of September, with at least eight of those spots required to be filled by homegrown players.
When it comes to matches, however, a matchday squad can only comprise 20 players.
Likely matchday squad if five new players join: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga , Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba, Jorrel Hato , Jakub Kiwior, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi , Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Rodrygo , Benjamin Sesko , Gabriel Jesus.
Missing out: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri.
That squad relies on Partey signing a new contract, with the club in talks with the Ghana international without coming to a deal with just two weeks left on his current contract. Partey leaving frees up another space in the matchday squad, but Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta may look to sign another midfielder in that situation, or give Nwaneri a spot in the squad given his versatility.
But that still leaves three players on the outside looking in, not even mentioning the loan players returning this summer – Karl Hein, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
