The transfer window may only have been open for two days, but it's been a busy one for Arsenal.
The Gunners have already submitted an opening bid for West Ham's Declan Rice. It was a proposal to pay £80million over six years with a potential further £10million in add ons, but the Hammers rejected it out of hand.
Elsewhere Kai Havertz has emerged as a player of serious interest, while plenty of full backs have been linked with a move to the Emirates. But how will this leave Mikel Arteta's side looking when they begin the campaign with a home game against Nottingham Forest on August 12th.
The likelihood is that Arteta will have sussed out his first choice XI long before that. Many within the Arsenal hierarchy feel that the club's ability to get business done early last summer is what spurred them on to have such a good start to the season.
The Gunners head out to Adidas HQ for a training camp on July 10th and will play their first preseason friendly with FC Nurnberg on the 13th. They will then set off for a preseason tour across the USA in Washington D.C, New York and Los Angeles where they will play the MLS All Stars, Manchester United and Barcelona respectively. Ideally Arteta will want as many of his key signings over the line before then.
One place where he won't be looking to strengthen is goalkeeping department. Matt Turner did well as a back up last season, but Aaron Ramsdale is the undisputed number one. Defensively a few things could change though.
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Arsenal have reached an agreement to tie William Saliba down to a new deal, which will see him continue his partnership at the back with Gabriel after the Brazilian signed a contract extension of his own earlier this year. Arsenal would like to add a defender to the ranks though, and with the versatility of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, it seems as though a full back would be more likely than a central defender.
Timothy Castagne, Ivan Fresneda and Joao Cancelo are all on Arsenal's watchlist as things stand. Of course, Cancelo would be the ideal candidate having worked briefly with Arteta when he was an assistant coach at Manchester City. The Portuguese international would certainly be the most costly of the options, but with Kieran Tierney potentially leaving this summer, he could be a superb addition alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Into midfield, it's no secret that Declan Rice is Arsenal's priority target this summer. Despite having their first bid rejected the Gunners remain confident of getting their man once they get the structuring of the deal right. The question if he does arrive though, is where exactly will he play? The England international can operate to a high level as both a six and an eight, but it's uncertain where in the Arsenal midfield he would operate. Many thought Granit Xhaka's impending departure could provide a hint on that front, but perhaps another of the Gunners' transfer targets is a bigger clue.
Arsenal's interest in Kai Havertz has confused many. It's not that people don't rate the German international, but they are unsure exactly where he'll fit. Across three seasons at Chelsea he has never really stayed in one position. While this could be to his benefit given Arteta's love for versatile players, it does create a few question marks.
The German could easily be competition for Gabriel Jesus up front, Bukayo Saka on the right wing, Martin Odegaard in the right eight position. Alternatively though Havertz could be someone who Arteta is looking to play in the left eight position. The Spaniard has previously played more offensively minded Emile Smith Rowe in the role instead of the more defensively minded Granit Xhaka. This could well have been a prelude for what's to come.
With the front three of Saka, Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli likely to continue in this set up it would make Arsenal a formidable offensive force. Questions might persist over this potential side's defensive capabilities given that this is where the Gunners ultimately fell apart last season, but it would make Arteta's side one to be feared across both the Premier League and the Champions Laegue.
Possible Arsenal XI next season - Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Cancelo; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Who should stay and who should go at Arsenal this summer? Have your say below!
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