Arsenal's pursuit of Leeds United winger Raphinha has prompted many questions surrounding the future of Bukayo Saka, but that needn't be the case as the pair can play in the same side.
Whilst the Gunners have already had a bid knocked back by Leeds for the Brazil international, it was reported by The Athletic over the weekend that more talks are planned with an increased offer for the 25-year-old expected - although it may take parting ways with £65m to get a deal done.
If successful and Arsenal do manage to complete the signing of Raphinha before the opening game of the new Premier League season on August 5 then Mikel Arteta will certainly be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting who should start on the right-wing against Crystal Palace.
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Considering Raphinha is predominantly a right-winger, is it safe to assume that he would get the nod at Selhurst Park especially if he's the north London outfit's most expensive signing this summer? If so then what would it mean for Saka who increased his goal output last season from this position?
Well, Arteta does have the simple option of moving the England international over to the left-wing. After all, this was the plan at the beginning of last season until it was ditched for the first North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur in September as the Arsenal manager settled on the right formula.
So if that's in the Spaniard's thinking should Raphinha arrive this summer then Saka isn't the only Arsenal star who could be handed a new role next season as a result of a mini-shake up on the flanks.
Perhaps the biggest casualty from Saka operating from the left-wing next season would be Emile Smith Rowe. After signing a new contract last summer, getting the number 10 shirt, making his senior England debut and arguably being the Gunners' best player for the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, fitness issues and Gabriel Martinelli's form saw him play more of a bit-part role for the remainder of the season.
And based on how last season concluded there's every chance Martinelli is firmly ahead of the 21-year-old in the pecking order. Then when factoring in that Saka might get more chances on the left unless Arteta plans on rotating him and Raphinha on the right-wing which seems unlikely.
Although the prospect of being the third-choice left-winger next season may not be too much of a problem for Smith Rowe as his versatility - as already highlighted by Arteta - means he will always be in the manager's thoughts when it comes to the Arsenal starting line-up.
"I think Smith Rowe can play in four positions," the Spaniard said after the Gunners failed to sign a striker in the January transfer window closed. "He can play as a left-winger, he can play as a left attacking midfielder, right attacking midfielder and he can play as a 9; very, very well I think."
Despite tipping Smith Rowe as an option to lead the line, Arteta resisted the temptation to do so last season and with Eddie Nketiah signing a new contract coupled with the imminent arrival of Gabriel Jesus, it seems unlikely that the experiment of the England U21 international as a 'false 9' will come to fruition.
But the Gunners manager did experiment with Smith Rowe as one of two '8's' in central midfield on a couple of occasions last season. Granted it didn't exactly go as smoothly as one would have hoped but it remains an option for Arteta and he could use pre-season to iron out any kinks.
It's well documented that Arsenal could do with an upgrade on Granit Xhaka in the 'left 8' position alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in what, on paper, is the strongest midfield Arteta can name and with Smith Rowe at his best when running from deep with and without the ball, he might just be the answer.
Depending on what happens with Arteta and Edu's pursuit of Raphinha, if Saka can successfully transition into a left-winger and subsequent plans in pre-season training go smoothly, Smith Rowe's new role next season could see him drop back into his more natural midfield role.
In this scenario, Smith Rowe, Odegaard, Saka and Raphinha could all start in a very attacking-minded Arsenal side in certain games. A prospect that would surely leave the centre-forward - whether that be Gabriel Jesus or Nketiah - licking their lips at the chances being created for them.
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