We are now just two weeks away from the start of the new Premier League season with Arsenal taking on Brentford at the Brentford Community Stadium on August 13th.
Arsenal have made a few moves in the market already, bringing in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares, with Ben White expected to be announced any day now, but with the new season approaching fast, there is still a lot of work to do.
Goalkeeper
Between the sticks, Arsenal currently have Bernd Leno as their number one. Despite recording his lowest save percentage in an Arsenal shirt last season, Leno is still a good goalkeeper and good enough to be number one. The issues with Leno lie off the field, where he has just two years left on his contract which expires in June 2023. In order to keep his value, Arsenal will need to either extend his contract or sell him off this summer.
Runar Alex Runarsson is currently Leno’s understudy but in limited minutes last season showed he may be out of his depth at Arsenal. A backup goalkeeper for a cheap fee should be a focus later in the window, just in case Leno picks up an injury, although given Arsenal’s lack of European football this season, they can probably get by if needs be.
Arthur Okonkwo has been promoted to the first team for the upcoming season but is expected to be little more than an emergency option.
Right Back
Arsenal ended last season with Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin and Cedric Soares fighting it out for the right back position. In pre-season, those same three have continued to share the role, and a decision needs to be made. After his impressive resurgence at the end of last season, Chambers currently has the strongest claim to the role but signing a new right back should be the aim.
It feels like Bellerin’s time at Arsenal is up with the injuries and Calum Chambers catching up to him. Inter Milan are reportedly interested in the Spaniard in order to replace Achraf Hakimi and cashing in on Bellerin to a team outside the Premier League would be a good move.
Having joined only a year ago and being able to fill in either fullback role, it looks like Cedric is set to stay. Should Chambers become first choice, Cedric offers a more attacking option and should be a capable deputy.
If other positions, namely defensive midfield, can be sorted, a new right back would make sense for Arsenal. As good as Chambers has been, it remains to be seen whether he can sustain his form for an entire season, and his lack of speed and agility will continue to hinder him. Max Aarons of Norwich, Tyler Adams of RB Leipzig and Tariq Lamptey of Brighton are the players most heavily linked with Arsenal in that position, all of which are young, athletic players who would provide Arteta with a different option.
Left Back
Left back is area Arsenal are now set in. Kieran Tierney has recently signed a new 5-year deal and has looked good in pre-season after returning from the Euros.
Arsenal signed Nuno Tavares from Benfica as Tierney’s understudy, and he himself has been getting stuck into pre-season, looking like an athletic attacking option on the left side.
Sead Kolasinac has returned to the group following his loan at Shalke but is a player Arsenal will surely be looking to move on by the end of the window.
(Credit: Arsenal.com)
Centre Back
Central defence is another area Arsenal have sorted. The imminent arrival of Ben White for £50 million provides Arteta with a young, progressive option on the right side who helps towards domestic registration rules. He will battle Rob Holding, who had a solid season last year, on the right side.
On the left, Arsenal have Gabriel Maghalaes and Pablo Mari, both of whom provide solid left footed options as Arteta continues evolving Arsenal to play out from the back. Gabriel and White will likely become the first-choice partnership, but it looks as though Mari will start the season with Gabriel recovering from a minor knee injury.
William Saliba has been loaned out to Marseille to play week in week out to continue his development, whilst Dinos Mavropanos has returned to Stutgart on loan.
Defensive Midfield
Defensive midfield is a position still in the balance and should be Arsenal’s current priority. Thomas Partey has had a full summer to regain his fitness and should return to the £50 million player Arsenal bought last year.
Albert Sambi Lokonga has been signed from Anderlecht as a potential partner for Partey and is someone who possess similar qualities, able to receive the ball under pressure, turn, and carry the ball up the pitch.
Granit Xhaka’s position in the squad is unresolved, with a move to Roma seeming unclear. He should be due to return to training any day now following his successful Euros campaign with Switzerland, although Arsenal and the player seem open to a move so finalising a deal looks to be the best option.
Mohammed Elneny is still at the club and is likely to stay as a third or fourth choice option. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has featured as a substitute in midfield during pre-season but his desire to play in midfield rather than as a fullback will likely see him sold, with several Premier League clubs reportedly interested.
Lucas Torreria’s loan at Atletico Madrid is over but he has yet to return to training following his involvement in the Copa America. A move for Torreira seems the most likely resolution for him. Meanwhile Matteo Guendouzi has been loaned out to Marseille following a turbulent loan at Hertha Berlin last season.
Arsenal have been linked with Bruno Guimaraes of Lyon in the past couple of days with talk of Manuel Locatelli going quiet. Another name on Arsenal’s radar is Houssem Aouar who the club were in for last summer.
(Credit: Arsenal.com)
Attacking Midfield
Arsenal’s attacking midfield situation is fluid as things stand. Emile Smith Rowe penned a new 5-year deal to stay at the club, being awarded the number 10 shirt in the process. After an impressive breakthrough in the first team last season, Smith Rowe is expected to kick on, with Mikel Arteta seeking more goals and assists from the youngster.
Joe Willock, who featured heavily in that role in the Europa League group stage last season, is Newcastle United’s number one target with Steve Bruce eager to bring the English midfielder back to Tyneside after an impressive loan spell last season. Given the success Willock and last season, it would be smart for Arsenal to cash in and let Willock kick on in his career.
The Gunners have been linked with Martin Odegaard and James Maddison over recent weeks, both of whom would come in as Arsenal’s marquee signing. There is no denying the quality of either player, but given the needs elsewhere in the squad and Smith Rowe’s performances last season, it feels like an area Arsenal do not need to prioritise until other business is done.
In terms of depth, Bukayo Saka is more than capable of covering the attacking midfield role if needs be.
Winger
Out wide Arsenal are spoilt for choice. Bukayo Saka will likely be first choice as the season goes on but is doubtful for opening day due to his holiday after the Euros.
Nicolas Pepe has had the summer to refresh after ending last season with a flurry. With Saka potentially out for the opening game, Pepe will have centre stage to impress and build on last season.
Gabriel Martinelli is currently away at the Olympics but seems to have fully recovered from the injury that saw him miss the first half of last season, and will be raring to go once he joins up with the team.
Willian is still around the squad, featuring in Arsenal latest pre-season game as an attacking midfielder. It was reported earlier this summer that he and the club are willing to discuss a move, and with the other young players in need of game time, shifting on Willian makes sense.
Reiss Nelson is another player Arsenal are reportedly looking to move on, with several bottom half Premier League clubs interested in him.
Both Emile Smith Rowe and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang featured out wide last season and depending on moves elsewhere could continue to feature there in the upcoming campaign.
Striker
Arsenal enter the new season with a similar striker situation to last. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang will be looking to bounce back after a difficult year and will likely feature more as a central striker to allow the likes of Saka and Pepe to play out wide.
Alexandre Lacazette looks as if he will stick around despite having just one year left on his deal. He represents a different option to Aubameyang with his back to goal style and linked up with the younger players fantastically at times last season. He and Aubameyang are expected to play the majority of minutes in the striker role.
Folarin Balogun has been promoted to the first team after signing a new deal. Balogun bagged two goals in just 68 minutes of senior football last season and will be hoping for greater opportunities this year. Given Arsenal’s lack of European football, a loan move may be best for him in order to develop but keeping him around would not be a bad move.
Eddie Nketiah will be battling with Balogun for minutes should both stay however the club should be looking to move him on whilst they can. Nketiah has been a useful option for Arsenal but it has never really looked as if he would become the focal point of the attack. With fewer minutes available this season, Arsenal need to act now.
Summary
Despite reasonable progress in the window so far, Arsenal still have a lot to do before the season. Defensive midfield, both incomings and outgoings, has to be the priority at the moment, alongside other sales such as Nketiah and Kolasinac.
Trimming the wage bill and raising funds should then allow Arsenal to pick up a second-choice goalkeeper before looking at right back and attacking midfield.
Adam Perry – 30/07/2021