Arsenal already know what still has to happen in this transfer window if they want to be successful next season and mount a serious top four challenge, and maybe even more than that.
With four signings already and two standout additions the Gunners are in a much better position at the start of this season than they were this time one year ago, but more still needs to be done to ensure that Mikel Arteta's side can compete with seasoned coaches around him.
Although the Spanish manager wants an energetic and youthful team, Gary Neville said on the opening night of the season that experience is necessary to take them on to the next level, especially in the crunch moments of the season, and that is what is already being looked at.
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Edu is targeting players like Youri Tielemans, who has more than 150 Premier League games under his belt, to not only strengthen the spine and experience of the squad but also add depth.
It's this area that has attracted the most attention. With Jesus coming in as a forward, though there are still more targets to be sought after for the attacking positions, and Zinchenko in as a primary defender - though he has proved to be a very good midfielder when called upon for Manchester City and Ukraine - Arsenal have addressed key areas of their squad, including goalkeeper depth and cover for Kieran Tierney.
They haven't however been able to find a solution to their issues with Granit Zhaka and Thomas Partey levels above Mohamed Elneney and Albert Sambi Lokonga. This was addressed by Rio Ferdinand, who said, "I just worry about your central midfield.," when speaking on his Vibe with Five Youtube channel.
"Xhaka hasn’t shown that he can be relied upon for long periods consistently. Partey, is he going to be fit? Is he going to be there in that sense," he added.
The former Manchester United defender doesn't think that creativity will be a problem, especially with Martin Odegaard now taking the captaincy, and he said, "Yep! [The captain’s armband weighs] heavy! I said that in the group chat. It could be a different Odegaard this year." However, his ex-United teammate Gary Neville was also in agreement that the Gunners need work still to make it a great window.
"I can only think central midfield," Neville reiterated on Friday night when asked where Arteta's side could fall down. "If Xhaka got injured, Partey got injured that could potentially cause a problem. They say Zinchenko could go in there, I can’t think of anywhere else.
"Midfield is the only area, Xhaka tonight, he got booked you always think he’s going to let you down at some point so you should plan for that because it’s coming. A midfielder would be a really good transfer window, it’s been a good transfer window anyway but that’d finish it off."
It is clear that Arsenal themselves have already identified this area, ramping up the search for a new midfielder with an offer for AC Milan star Sandro Tonali. He would be a more expensive alternative to Tielemans as football.london understands that the club are considering a delayed move for the Belgian, instead favouring him as a free agent in 2023.
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