Arsenal have been linked with an ambitious move for Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. With European football returning to the Emirates Stadium next term, a deeper pool of players will be needed and a busy summer transfer window is on the horizon.
Last summer saw the Gunners splash out over £140million on new recruits and they have made their presence known with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Takehiro Tomiyasu helping them challenge for a surprise place in next season's Champions League.
It appears they may now fall short of that goal, with Tottenham now boasting a two-point advantage ahead of the final day of the season. Antonio Conte's side just need to draw with Norwich to secure their place in next season's competition with a goal difference deficit of 15 to make up as well.
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But transforming Arsenal back into their former glory was never going to be a quick fix and the likes of Arteta and director Edu will be keeping level heads going into the summer. One of the names on the club's radar is reportedly Man City midfielder Gundogan.
Arsenal have looked light in the centre of the field throughout the season. While Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka have impressed as a duo, beyond them, there is a noticeable dip in quality and experience. Gundogan would indicate a fix for that problem, but past quotes from Pep Guardiola also show that he could even be used as a surprise replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
"I said many times he could play as a striker, like a false nine, and people laughed," Guardiola said of Gundogan after the German scored twice in a 3-0 win over Tottenham in January 2021.
"Today it was the action for a clear penalty and after he had the quality to score the two goals. He has the tempo to arrive there. He is so good in these moments. He won the award for player of the month. If he keeps playing this way in February, he is going to win it again."
The 2020/21 campaign saw the 31-year-old net an impressive 13 goals in 28 Premier League appearances, as Guardiola used him in a more advanced position. Having coached the German at the Etihad Stadium, could Arteta be planning something similar?
