The reality of Arsenal’s situation is sometimes difficult to come to terms with when the past of this prestigious footballing institution is levels from where it has since fallen. The idea that Arsenal could sign ‘world-class’ talent this summer is unlikely.
Arsenal have had their fair share of world-class players in the past, sometimes where the majority of the team was made up of them. However, since the move to the Emirates and the regression, they have dwindled until realistically only one remains in Thomas Partey.
Players such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes to name a few certainly have the potential to be world-class players one day but they are still seasons of development away from this. The term ‘world class’ in itself will always be subjective to the person using it.
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From my perspective, a world-class player is an individual who has consistently performed at the highest level and their output be it offensive, defensive or a mix of both reflects that of a group in the top tier for their position. Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski would fall into this category for a striker.
Whilst Kevin De Bruyne and Thiago Alcantara would do so for midfield. In defence, we would look now to players such as Virgil van Dijk and David Alaba. It is not surprising to see these players are at the top clubs in the world.
However, some clubs on a similar current level to Arsenal are able to get their hands on them. Painfully, Tottenham are one of these teams with both Harry Kane and Heung-min Son falling into the category. However, the pair didn’t enter the Spurs' first team at the world-class level, they were developed from youth and bought in respectively before elevating themselves into the tier.
Realistically, Arsenal are unlikely to sign any ‘world-class’ level players this summer. The reasons are to do with their absence from the UEFA Champions League in addition to the money expected to be spent on a number of individuals this summer.
The only players that have been loosely linked with the club who could be argued are world-class right now are Serge Gnabry and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. It would cost Arsenal serious money in transfer fees and wages to secure them and even then convincing the German to give up the elite European competition would be a challenge.
Neither are the top targets and instead, Arsenal are looking in the tier below that level. What could be described as the ‘top class’ level is a much larger pool of talent with players that either have the potential to reach the world-class level in years to come or have since regressed out of the top tier.
Youri Tielemans and Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal's priority targets for central midfield and striker, fall into this category in my view. Like Son, these players would join in the view that they will reach the world-class level and Mikel Arteta has already brought in a number of players or developed existing talent that certainly fills this group.
The aforementioned Saka, Odegaard and Gabriel are joined by Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli. All have shown their ability and could, with a step up in performance and consistency one day enter the elite level.
Arteta will be hoping his business if done right this summer will further the quality of the group. That said, should an opportunity to sign a world-class player for an accessible figure emerge, the Gunners should certainly be jumping at the chance or risk of seeing them move to their rivals.
