Where must Arsenal strengthen before deadline day?

 

After four summer signings, where must Arsenal strengthen before deadline day?

By Oli Dickson Jefford

If last week’s 2-0 defeat to Brentford proved anything, it was that there is a lot of work needed for Arsenal to haul themselves up the table this season.

With doubts circulating over Mikel Arteta’s long-term future at the club and several players being criticised for their performances in multiple matches, there is little doubt that major investment is needed if Arsenal want to challenge for European places this year.

And, there has already been some investment this summer.

The signings of Ben White, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga earlier in the summer were all largely encouraging for fans.

However, yesterday’s confirmation that Martin Odegaard had signed on a permanent deal for the Gunners was perhaps the most exciting transfer of the summer so far.

Odegaard starred when on loan from Real Madrid last season and if he continues to play like that, he will certainly provide a real spark of creativity for Arsenal’s attack.

Despite that positive news, more investment is still sorely required.

Arguably the main concern is whether any other attacking player can be signed, with no one in this position at the club really excelling currently. 

Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang no longer appear to be at their peak while the likes of Folarin Balogun and Gabriel Martinelli are also not yet that experienced.

A world-class striker would hugely boost Arsenal’s chances of a strong season, though the issue is who that striker would be and where they’d come from.

Both the Gunners and north London rivals Tottenham have reportedly been quoted £60m for Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic, a price Arsenal are unlikely to want to pay after splashing out £50m on defender White.

The club were also reportedly interested in Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, though that interest was quickly shut down with the Argentinian now likely to sign a new contract. 

With a paucity of world-class strikers available at a price Arsenal would be willing to pay, it seems like this might remain a problem until next summer.

Another issue that fans were hoping would be addressed this summer was the club’s goalkeeping situation, and there seems to have been progress in this.

Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale was apparently devastated when the Gunners dropped their initial pursuit of him, but it looks like this move will now go ahead.

Ramsdale will likely leapfrog Alex Runarsson as second-choice keeper, and may even jump ahead of Bernd Leno to become Arsenal’s No.1.

With Leno prone to disastrous mistakes and poor decision making at times, a new goalkeeper would be welcome by many fans.

Whether 23-year-old Ramsdale, who endured a torrid time for Sheffield United last season, provides a successful alternative remains to be seen. 

However, while these are two areas that Arsenal have been keen to target, it is fair to say that strength in depth can be improved across the board.

They looked weak in most, if not all, departments against Brentford and while they are unlikely to play that poorly again in the next few weeks, that performance should show just how much investment is needed.

In particular a new defender may be a target, with the likes of White not looking entirely at ease in that match – though he may simply need a few weeks to settle into his new club.

Arsenal fans will certainly hope to see the squad strengthened before transfer deadline day with a couple new signings.

Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.

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