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Arsenal have endured a torrid season in the Premier League so far. The Gunners are ninth in the league and are out of both domestic cup competitions.
The only hope of silverware for Arsenal this campaign is the Europa League, where they have reached the quarter-finals.
Arsenal have missed out on Champions League football for the past five seasons, something they would look to correct that ahead of next season.
Five players Arsenal could target in the summer
The forthcoming transfer window presents the best chance for Arsenal to return to their glory days. Therefore, recruitment and team strengthening would be of utmost importance to the club in the summer.
While Arsenal had a relatively quiet January window in terms of incomings, they did a good job of clearing out players deemed surplus to requirements.
The high number of departures have helped Arsenal free up space and generate funds for new signings. On that note, let's take a look at five players Arsenal could target in the summer.
#1 Tariq Lamptey
Right-back Tariq Lamptey is a Chelsea academy graduate who played for the Blues senior team before he was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion last year.
Lamptey has thoroughly impressed in during his time at the Seagulls, where he has established himself as one of England's best young talents.
Arsenal's current first-choice right-back Hector Bellerin has been rumoured with an exit after nine years at the Emirates, with the Spaniard strongly linked with a move to PSG. His replacement, Portuguese full-back Cedric Soares, has been quite unreliable so far.
Therefore, Mikel Arteta could look to bring in Lamptey, who is far more agile and fill the spot in the long term.
Reports claim Arsenal might look to bring in a new right-back next summer, so Lamptey is one option they could pursue.
Although Lamptey signed a new deal with Brighton in January, one that would keep him at the club till 2025, it would not be a surprise if he asks to leave if an offer comes from Arsenal.
#2 Dani Ceballos
Dani Ceballos is in his second stint at Arsenal from Real Madrid. He joined the Gunners in 2019 on a season-long loan, which was extended to another year after several impressive outings.
The Spanish midfield has made 68 appearances for Arsenal since his arrival and has been a valuable player in the heart of the Arsenal midfield. He has often showed his adept positional sense, evading opposition press with ease, and is also a very proficient set-piece taker.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has shown that Ceballos is seemingly integral to his plans. The performances of the midfielder have shown that he has adapted to the style of play of the manager.
With Arsenal and Real Madrid on good terms and Ceballos having just two years left on his contract with the Galacticos, signing Ceballos permanently should not prove too difficult or costly for the Gunners.
#3 Memphis Depay
Former Manchester United attacker Memphis Depay has turned around his fortunes since moving to France.
Memphis Depay has scored 15 goals and contributed nine assists in all competitions so far this season. He is now the key man for Olympique Lyon as they contend for the Ligue 1 title this season.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah have been rumoured with a summer exit from Arsenal, while team captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been out of form for most of the season.
Arsenal could therefore bring in Memphis to address their offensive woes. The versatile Dutchman can play on either wing as well as in the number 10 position.
Depay was on the verge of joining Barcelona last transfer window. However, the move collapsed, forcing him to stay in France for one more season.
His contract, however, expires this summer, and according to reports, he may not extend his stay with the Ligue 1 outfit.
#4 Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard, like Ceballos, is a Real Madrid loanee at Arsenal. The Norwegian playmaker joined Mikel Arteta's side in January and has impressed.
That has prompted both the Arsenal fans and the board to seek a permanent deal for the player.
The 22-year-old has been a Real Madrid player since 2015 but has never really secured his place in the first team. He joined Mikel Arteta's side after being scarcely used by Zinedine Zidane in the first half of the season.
While Odegaard has always claimed he wants to play for the Bernabeu outfit, he has not closed the door on joining Arsenal, where he is getting ample opportunities to showcase his abilities.
A return to Real Madrid for Odegaard might depend on Zinedine Zidane's future at the club. However, with Zidane remaining in charge for the foreseeable future, Odegaard could well end up signing for Arsenal, who are interested in his services.
#5 Houssem Aouar
Houssem Aouar is among the long list of talents produced by Lyon over the years. The midfielder was promoted to the first team in 2016 after impressing at the academy.
His performances last season at Lyon saw him attract interest from several clubs, with Arsenal being the frontrunners for his signature. The Frenchman was Arsenal's number one transfer target last summer. But financial difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic saw the London club opt for Thomas Partey instead.
It is therefore expected that Arsenal could return for Aouar this summer, as they still retain an interest in the services of the midfielder.
Arsenal look set to let go of wantaway midfielders Matteo Guendozi and Lucas Torreira, who are currently at Hertha Berlin and Atletico Madrid, respectively. Aouar could, therefore, be brought in as the Gunners look to return to Europe's prestigious competition.
