Arsenal technical director Edu may have received an unexpected boost regarding Manchester United's Paul Pogba.
After deciding against adding to Mikel Arteta 's first-team squad last month, the Gunners are expected to be extremely active when the summer transfer window opens.
With Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both set to depart when their contracts expire, it's almost certain that Arsenal will move to sign at least one new centre forward ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Midfield is also an area where Arteta and Edu must strengthen, especially as Mohamed Elneny is likely to leave when his contract is up in June and Granit Xhaka is once again being linked with a move to AS Roma.
As a result, Youri Tielemans has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as has Lille's Renato Sanches and the pair could be available at a cut-price deal as their contracts expire in the summer of 2023.
But the dream midfield signing to complete the Arsenal squad would be Pogba. Well at least in Ian Wright 's world as he has previously admitted that he'd love to have a player like the Frenchman.
The Gunners legend heaped praise on the France World Cup winner following his performance in United's 2-1 win over Aston Villa last season, highlighting how the 28-year-old improves others around him.
"Yes [Pogba is back to his best] he is and you know, with all the stuff that’s happened with him he’s getting it right on the pitch," Wright said on Match of the Day. "He’s put it all to the side and to be honest he's putting in good performances.
"He was unlucky there [not to score against Villa] but I thought with his ability he should have scored. Great touch, great play, great awareness, great skill. He's getting everyone playing and that's what he does.
"He was everywhere. He was in his own box, he was up there in their box, he was doing everything today.
"That's what he can do with his creativity. You give him this much time when you have willing runners like Marcus Rashford….that is just fantastic.
"A super, super pass. I’d love to have someone like that."
So it's clear that Wright is a big fan of Pogba, but what does the future hold for the Man United star who is out of contract in June and therefore just five months away from becoming a free agent?
Well, according to The Telegraph, the Frenchman is willing to listen to offers from all options, including other Premier League teams, which means Arsenal would be an option if they make an approach.
In the scenario that the Gunners do move for Pogba and he accepts an offer to complete a rather surprise move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, what would be Arsenal's best line-up on the opening day of the 2022/23 season?
Taking all the transfer rumours into consideration, it's likely that the France international wouldn't be the only player to arrive at the club this summer as Alexander Isak, Armando Broja and Djed Spence are among those being linked.
With that said, Pogba could be the perfect partner for Thomas Partey in central midfield and this allows Arteta to either stick with the 4-2-3-1 system or finally make a permanent move to his dream 4-3-3 formation.
If the Spaniard opts for the latter, Pogba could operate as one of two '8's' with Martin Odegaard operating slightly deeper than his favoured no.10 role and with Partey at the base.
They would provide protection to a back five that includes Aaron Ramsdale in goal behind, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Benjamin White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney.
Bukayo Saka has nailed down his position on the right-hand side of Arsenal's front three, but it's between Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe on the opposite flank.
It remains to be seen what striker the Gunners sign this summer, but bringing in Pogba on a free transfer would allow them to go big for Isak who has a release clause in his Real Sociedad in the region of £75m.
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The luxury of these dream line-ups is the options Arteta would have in reserve.
Martinelli, Smith Rowe and William Saliba have all proven themselves to be capable of playing at the highest level, so if any have to settle for a place on the bench for the first game of next season it would simply highlight Arsenal's strength in depth.
Arsenal's XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Pogba; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Isak
