Arsenal are in the somewhat unexpected position of being one of the most attractive destinations in world football heading into the summer. Not that they weren't already, the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko last year show that but few thought they would be competing with the big guns already.
It has accelerated their progress beyond belief. They are now in a position whereby both financially, as an elite footballing side and in terms of future prospects they are among the best looking sides.
With Mikel Arteta they have a highly-rated, young, ambitious and overachieving manager. The squad is full of character and players of a prime age to improve even more. One year on from failing to reach the top four and world class talents like Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice aren't out of the frame for joining in a few months time.
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Entering the race for the former isn't a stage of development as a club that could have been planned for and now the Gunners are among a set of clubs still competing for his signature. At 19, Bellingham has the freedom of the world at his feet and the Emirates is seen as a genuine destination for him.
However, according to the German news outlet Ruhr Nachrichten, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder has 'finally' made a decision as to where he is heading after a summer of rumours and speculation. Although the choice is yet to be made public interest from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City still exists.
This comes with other Arsenal squad additiions to be made heading into the 2023/24 campaign. There are still six weeks to go of this season but already there are calls to be made on Folarin Balogun and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Both players have been on loan during the season - Balogun departing temporarily over the summer and Lokonga in Janury - and could be reintegrated into the team set-up for the new term. The English forward has been sensational in Ligue 1 for Stade de Reims and will look to force his way into the thoughts of Arteta.
As for Lokonga, he had been impressing for a poor Crystal Palace side under Patrick Vieira but has since found himself out-of-favour under Roy Hodgson. The struggle for Fabio Vieira against Southampton on Friday demonstrated the need for a new midfielder over the summer though and Lokonga could be just that man.
With extra experience and development under his belt across London it could be the break he needs in order to make a real case for more first team action at the Emirates Stadium. At the current moment he looks to have less power when it comes to forcing Arteta's hand than Balogun but get it right and Arsenal may well enter the new season like they have two new signings and that's before any more additions are made in the market.
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