The quality of the Arsenal starting eleven this season has risen dramatically with the introduction of a number of singings made by sporting director Edu with the collaboration of Mikel Arteta over the past few years. However, there remain questions about the strength in depth of the squad.
Gabriel Jesus has successfully undergone surgery on a knee injury keeping him out for an extended period, the potential fear of losing a key member of the starting eleven has emphasised the issues that need addressing. Fortunately, Arsenal have looked to show the desire to strengthen in the forward area this winter, football.london understands that Mykhaylo Mudryk is of long-term interest to the Gunners and a move could be made this winter.
However, in midfield, it does not appear that the targets are available for Arsenal to make a competitive signature. football.london understands that the club have an interest in the Brazilian Danilo which extends from the previous summer window and could see a move made this winter.
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That said, the 21-year-old is still several years of development away from producing the world-class levels that Partey has brought to the Gunners. Other reports have suggested both Ibrahima Bamba and Yunus Musah could be potential options.
Again, neither represent the level of player expected to bring competition in the same way that Mudryk would for Arsenal’s front line. It appears that these represent a replacement for the depth options existing at the club.
Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny have provided that depth in midfield thus far. However, neither, despite opportunities throughout their contrasting lengths of time at the club, have been able to establish themselves in the best eleven.
Mikel Arteta has been quick to make decisions on members of his squad, even those signed under his tenure. After just one season at the club, Nuno Tavares was loaned out to Marseille and Arsenal invested in Oleksandr Zinchenko.
It could be that the Arsenal manager has also deemed Lokonga a player whose time at the club might be finite. Danilo, Bamba or Musah would represent a new young project to have a shot at making it.
The player who could provide competition to either Partey or Xhaka therefore could present themselves in the summer. A time when the options are far more broad and accessible.
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