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Football London
Football London
Sport
Kwame Boakye

Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal starting XI after £66m transfer spend

Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The Gunners are believed to be highly keen on the £66 million striker, however they face competition in the shape of Juventus and Manchester City for his signature.

The Serbian star has enjoyed a prolific season for Fiorentina, scoring 20 goals in 24 appearances for the Serie A side.

It’s no secret that Arsenal are in the market for a striker with Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette both out of contract in the summer.

Doubts also remain over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future after the Gabon striker was recently stripped of the captaincy.

If the Gunners sign Vlahovic this month it would give their hopes of finishing in the top four a real boost, but how would Arteta’s side line-up if they secured the services of one Europe’s hottest young talents?

How could Arsenal line up with Vlahovic?

Mikel Arteta prefers to operate with a 4-2-3-1 system, with an attacking three behind Vlahovic of: Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

However, Gabriel Martinelli has also featured down the left hand side, with Smith Rowe occasionally on the bench.

Smith Rowe could also play through the middle in place of Odegaard, with Martinelli operating from the left wing and Saka deployed on the right.

That particularly youthful attack would boast no player over the age of 21, an exciting prospect for Gunners fans that their attacking foursome could grow, develop and forge an incredible understanding over time.

Arsenal potential line-up if Dusan Vlahovic signs: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Vlahovic

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