The cynics said Arsenal would not be able to cope when the injuries racked up. They said the weaknesses in Mikel Arteta’s squad would be exposed. Well, at this stage, it almost seems churlish to say that you should underestimate this Gunners side at your peril.
No Thomas Partey? No problem. Arsenal won three of their four Premier League games without the midfield powerhouse patrolling their engine room from the start. Gabriel Jesus faces months on the sidelines? Ok, well Eddie Nketiah will step in; Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka contributing too.
But just because Arsenal have made a mockery of those who suggested they did not have the strength in depth to cope with a gruelling fixture schedule, that does not mean that they should let the summer window pass them by without solving a couple of rather obvious deficiencies in Arteta’s ranks.
The process, to an extent, is already underway. Jakub Kiwior, the £22 million January arrival from Spezia, means Gabriel Magalhaes has genuine competition for the left-sided centre-half berth. Leandro Trossard, meanwhile, gives Arteta a flexible, versatile option capable of filling a number of attacking roles.
With attention now turning away from January and towards June, the early signs suggest that a new attacking midfielder is the next bullet point on Arteta’s to-do list.
Arsenal need competition for Martin Odegaard
Arsenal, Faro de Vigo say, are confident about a potential £35 million deal for Celta Vigo’s Spain U21 international Gabri Veiga. No midfielder in La Liga has more goals than Veiga’s eight; the 20-year-old possessing that almost Lampard-esque ability to drift unnoticed into the penalty area before finishing in style.
The eternally-underrated Julian Brandt is another option.
“There has always been contact with Arsenal,” German reporter Christian Falk tells Give Me Sport. “And we’ve heard that the club is interested again. His contract expires in 2024, so there has to be a decision. Especially now that he’s found more consistency this term.
“Arsenal are more interested than ever before.”
Dortmund raid?
With nine goals in 31 games, this is shaping up to be Brandt’s most prolific season ever. Keep a close eye on Brandt’s Dortmund team-mate Mo Dahoud too; Sky Germany reporting that Arsenal are one of a number of interested suitors.
Dortmund have confirmed that Dahoud will leave on a free when his contract expires in July. And the stylish Germany international could be a low-cost alternative if Veiga or Brandt are too expensive.
With Fabio Vieira struggling to live up to early expectations, captain fantastic Martin Odegaard is perhaps the only irreplaceable member of this Arsenal XI. But Veiga, Brandt or, to a lesser extent, Dahoud could become, in theory, what Kiwior is to Gabriel Magalhaes. What Trossard is to Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal have overachieved with a small squad this season. But, if Arteta is serious about juggling a number of different fronts while maintaining a sense of competitiveness within his ranks, the summer offers an ideal opportunity to add both quality and quantity in equal measure.
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