If you told me that Arsenal would sign two of Manchester City's most important players this summer, I probably would have laughed. However, that is now very close to becoming a reality.
Mikel Arteta secured one of his top priorities in Gabriel Jesus in addition to signing the likes of talented midfielder Fabio Vieira, upcoming winger Marquinhos and goalkeeper Matt Turner to replace the departing Bernd Leno. Now, it's about raising the bar even more with a focus on squad depth especially.
Arsenal are preparing for what will be a demanding 2022/23 season after the return to Europe and new five substitutes rule meant that there was a substantial need for extra numbers within the team.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta may have hinted at Arsenal's next transfer target after Oleksandr Zinchenko deal
Even without European football last season, there were far too many times where inexperienced youngsters found themselves making up a large proportion of the bench due to first-team absentees and Arteta knows that it can't happen again if he wants his side to compete strongly in all competitions.
The business done so far has certainly put the squad in a healthier position, as has the return of several loanees following spells away from the club. Despite this, there remains plenty to do, in and out, for Arsenal to be in the best position possible.
After missing out on Lisandro Martinez, Arteta and technical director Edu swiftly turned their attention to Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko. Talks are believed to have accelerated in the past 48 hours and personal terms are currently being discussed.
Possessing plenty of talent, versatility, and proven Premier League experience, the Ukrainian international will be a valuable addition to the team. His ability to play at left-back and central midfield will no doubt ease the pressure in those particular areas, but it's by no means an indication that the spending is stopping with him.
Speaking after the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, Arteta was asked about further business this window and his response did little to hide the club's intentions. "We're still hoping to improve the team and make a few more changes," he said. "But again, the market will dictate our capacity to do this."
It's not currently known whether or not Zinchenko's arrival could end Arsenal's pursuit of a new midfielder amid links to Youri Tielemans and Lucas Paqueta, but a winger is also said to be on the shopping list with Nicolas Pepe likely to leave in the coming weeks.
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