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After Arsenal fell to a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in a pre-season friendly, it became shockingly evident that the club have plenty of work to do. They finished eighth in the Premier League last season and failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in more than two decades. While the board continues to support Mikel Arteta, Arsenal need to bring in some fresh faces to challenge for a top-four finish.
Nuno Tavares was recently announced as Arsenal's first signing of the summer. The strategy the Gunners seem to be adopting this year is to target young and versatile players who can play in a myriad of positions. Tavares, for example, plays predominantly as a left-back but also has experience as a left midfielder and as a right-back.
The summer transfer window will close on August 31 and Arsenal are bound to sign a few more players. On that note, here is a look at five players who have been linked with moves to the club.
#5 Ben White
Arsenal are on the lookout for a defender this summer and Ben White is among those who could join the Gunners. The Brighton and Hove Albion player was called up to Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2020 but failed to make a single appearance during the tournament.
With the competition now over, Arsenal might be able to accelerate talks with the player and club to secure his signature as soon as possible. According to reports, personal terms with White have already been agreed upon, and the Gunners would likely have to pay around £50 million for the centre-back.
Last season, White helped the Seagulls keep 11 clean sheets and enjoyed a 53% tackle success rate, which is much better than Rob Holding's 47%. Although Graham Potter often names White as a centre-back, the 23-year-old has also played as a defensive midfielder and right-back. His experience in various positions will certainly be a key factor with Arsenal looking to improve their defensive and midfield options this season.
#4 Houssem Aouar
Since the previous summer transfer window, Arsenal have been keeping an eye on Houssem Aouar. Mikel Arteta was on the verge of signing the midfielder but the deal eventually broke down.
The failure to bring in a creative midfielder meant Arsenal had to predominantly rely on Emile Smith Rowe before Martin Odegaard was signed on loan in January. This overdependence had a detrimental impact on their season. Although Smith Rowe enjoyed an impressive breakout season, he can be quite injury-prone. Meanwhile, Odegaard has returned to Real Madrid and is unlikely to return to the Emirates Stadium for the 2021-22 campaign. Both these factors mean Arsenal do not have a long-term solution for their creativity issues ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Picking up from where they left off last summer, Arsenal are seemingly keen on Aouar once again. But this time around they face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham.
If Aouar does join the Gunners, he would certainly strengthen Arsenal's midfield. In addition to producing 2.3 shots per game and boasting an average passing accuracy of 86%, the Lyon midfielder managed to score seven goals and provide three assists last season.
His capability in the center of the field is something Arsenal have sorely missed, and there is no doubt that Aouar will improve the Gunners' midfield.
#3 James Maddison
There is no doubt that James Maddison is an admirer of former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil. The question is, will the Englishman also join the Gunners and potentially churn out a career as successful as the German international in his glory days?
Since making his debut for Leicester City, Maddison has netted 21 times and laid 17 assists in 98 Premier League games. The Foxes signed him for £20 million but have reportedly imposed a £60 million price tag on the Englishman.
Should the 24-year-old join Arsenal this summer, he will definitely lighten the burden on Smith Rowe's shoulders and add more creativity to the team. However, the huge fee that Arsenal would have to fork out might be a hindrance to the deal.
#2 Ruben Neves
Similar to the other players on this list, Ruben Neves has also been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal. The Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder could cost £35 million as new manager Bruno Lage appears eager to keep the player beyond this summer.
Neves joined Wolves in August 2017 and has since made 176 appearances in all competitions. A defensive midfielder by trade, the 24-year-old played in all but two Premier League matches last season. During the same period, he scored five goals and provided one assist.
Similar to Maddison, Neves brings with him a wealth of Premier League experience. The Portuguese international might be the perfect player to accompany Thomas Partey in midfield for Arsenal next season.
#1 Albert Sambi Lokonga
After turning down two bids from Italy, Albert Sambi Lokonga is all set to join Arsenal. Reports have claimed that the 21-year-old had completed his medical and his move to the Gunners should be announced imminently.
Not much is known about this young but highly-rated midfielder. But Premier League legend and Anderlecht manager Vincent Kompany recently provided some insights about Lokonga. He said:
“With his qualities at his age, he stands out for me. Will Sambi win his duels? Is he improving his defensive work? You ask yourself these questions as a coach. Well, I’ve seen him make a lot of progress in that area.”
With Matteo Guendouzi's departure and Granit Xhaka also likely to leave Arsenal, the Gunners urgently need to sign a replacement. Lokonga can play either as a central midfielder or in defensive midfield, and fits Arsenal's requirements perfectly. He will also bring in some much-needed leadership qualities to North London. Lokonga has already captained the Anderlecht first-team at the young age of 21.
