Despite transfer deadline day being filled with talk and eventually disappointment surrounding the potential arrival of a central midfield, Douglas Luiz, there was a position also left without reinforcement. The club allowed Nicolas Pepe to leave prior to the injuries suffered by both Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey.
Arsenal had been linked to several wide players across the window from Mykhaylo Mudryk to Pedro Neto. However, the pivot to look at the midfield instead left the wide-area neglected.
With that, it meant Bukayo Saka was left as the only natural senior right-winger. However, the club did make two additions in the summer who had the potential to provide cover for the England international.
READ MORE: FC Zurich vs Arsenal highlights: Marquinhos and Nketiah score and assist as Arteta left wanting
Fabio Vieira arrived from Porto for a substantial £34million. However, it has been the less impressive sum that was spent on Marquinhos that could perhaps prove to be more valuable this season after what was an impressive debut.
A goal and an assist in a 2-1 win away at FC Zurich has seen the Brazilian announce his arrival as an Arsenal player. The 19-year-old was pictured in tears after scoring, letting out what was clearly an emotional moment having taken a big step from Sao Paulo in Brazil to north London to chase a dream.
He was supported on the opposite flank by Gabriel Martinelli. A player who also as a teenager made the same journey from Sao Paulo-based club Ituano to north London for a small fee in relation to the big money spent by the biggest clubs in the world.
Arsenal will be willing Marquinhos to rise just like Martinelli. However, having impressed for the youth side with three goals in two games, he has now stamped his mark on the senior scene.
Pepe was often used by Arteta sparingly and in 2020/21, in particular, a regular in the Europa League. He scored plenty of goals and assisted too, providing respite to Saka who by this time had established himself in the first team.
Saka came on against Zurich but was unable to match his predecessors contribution. Marquinhos cannot become just an understudy to a player only two years older.
The Brazilian, if he is to succeed at Arsenal, has an expectation to fight for more minutes, like Martinelli before him, and push Saka for the starting spot. Mikel Arteta will hope this is a strong sign for the future and perhaps even an opportunity to save financial investment on a new wide player later on down the line.
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