By Graham Jones
Arsenal finished the 2019/20 season on a high by winning the FA Cup. They came from a goal behind to defeat Chelsea 2-1 and not only win a trophy for the first time since 2017 but also qualify for Europe. The fans and players would rather have qualified for the Champions League than the Europa League but it was a big moment for the club.
Not being able to offer European football next season would have hindered Arsenal’s chances of signing the players they desire ahead of the 2020/21 season. Mikel Arteta will be working hard on his transfer targets but where do Arsenal need to strengthen so they can challenge for the top four?
The centre of midfield must be a priority for Arsenal during the transfer window. Granit Xhaka Is one of the players to have benefited following the arrival of Arteta but the midfield is lacking any identity and that has been the case for some time. Young central midfielder Matteo Guendouzi fell out of favour towards the end of last season and it appears he could be on his way out of the club. Daniel Ceballos was on loan from Real Madrid during the 2019/20 campaign and Arsenal are trying to make the deal permanent.
However, even if Ceballos signs permanently at the Emirates Stadium, the central midfield area needs a boost. Atlético Madrid’s Thomas Partey has long been linked with a move to Arsenal but the lack of Champions League football seems to have put off the Ghana international. He remains a target for the club and would, without doubt improve the Arsenal midfield. Arteta will need to persuade Partey to join The Gunners but it would be well worth the effort.
Carlos Soler and Marc Roca are two additional La Liga midfielders who could bring some much needed quality to the Arsenal team. Currently playing for Valencia and Espanyol respectively, the duo impressed last season.
Should Arsenal sign Partey, Gunners fans will feel more confident about their chances of finishing in the top four. If you are considering having a bet on Arsenal to qualify for the Champions League in the 2020/21 season, you should have a look at these football offers. There are plenty of free bets to take advantage of before the new season.
There is no hiding the fact Arsenal have struggled in central defence recently. However, William Saliba has already joined the club in a €30m deal and David Luiz has agreed a new contract. So, it is unlikely Arsenal are going to spending big in the defensive department. If they do splash the cash, it is likely to be on Samuel Umtiti or Dayot Upamecano as both players have previously been linked with a move to the club.
In terms of forwards, there is plenty to like about the current group of players. However, the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains unclear and seeing the striker sign a new contract would be Arsenal’s biggest deal of the summer. They cannot afford to lose the Gabonese but if they did, Arsenal could turn to Odsonne Édouard of Celtic, a player who is proving himself in Scotland.
Certainly winning the Cup has allowed fans to be more optimistic / excited about next season assuming the world is back to normal, and PEA signs a new contract .
Knowing who will be leaving would help ( fingers crossed ) but whatever the outcome I believe things are on the UP again.
Welcome new man Willian . A gamble yes but Definitely worth a punt .
In footballing terms the needs of the Club have been stated and restated ad nauseum. Playmaker in midfield, central defender, etc.
It seems the club needs work on it’s overall business model and recruitment policy. The total gutting of the scouting department, domestically and internationally, will see even more influence for the super agents such as Joorabchian who has an undue influence now. Arsenal have overpaid on every deal in which he has been involved. I’m sure that includes the fees he’s charged the club to ‘facilitate’ the deals.
I guess it’s that the Kroenkes are more comfortable with the U.S. business model re recruitment where the super agents have controlled professional sport for quite some time. These parasites will then find the ‘hidden gems’ for the club. The gems being their clients of course.
If I recall, Arsene Wenger brought extensive international scouting to the club with a great deal of success, uncovering talent in leagues big and small throughout his tenure. I doubt he would accept or allow the dismantling of the group that contributed to entertaining and winning football by AFC. And after asking the players to accept a cut in pay to avoid it, to boot!
Happy with the manager and direction on the pitch, APPALLED at everything else at the club. An insidious deceitfulness has crept in.
Going by the media hypes hyping the Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard and especially the Rangers FC Alfredo Morelos. Who both could all be okay and fine for Arsenal if they sign any of the duo Scottish Premier top strikers. But for me, Danny Ings 29 of Southampton FC who has already have Premier League games playing experience and have scored 22 times in the PL last season for the Saints should be the new striker’s signing who I think Arsenal should sign this summer. For, I think he will only be a good addition to Arsenal 1st team this summer but a better one than the 2 Scottish Premier top strikers who I have mentioned above. But if any of them is signed by Arsenal this summer, he will likely have to first take some times to settle down in the team before picking up to start to play the high level Premier League football playing and scoring goals in double digits number for Arsenal that will be their demands demanded from him to be doing for the club consistently. However, because Ings who already has been playing in the PL and scoring goals in their high numbers for the Saints consistently may not need much time to settle down in the Arsenal first team before he will start impacting effectively for the club in the PL scoring goals for the Arsenal in both the PL & Europa next season’s campaign.
Nevertheless, Ings signing by Arsenal this summer should not be premised on if Aubameyang extends his contract deal at club this summer as he is still obliged by contract obligation to honour his current contract at the club to stay at Arsenal for the whole of next season even if he refused to extend his staying at the club this summer or next winter window. But I wouldn’t be blaming Arsenal should they now decided to cash on his likely and unlikely wanting to leave the club on transfer this summer to use the big money fee they’ll get on his sale for some incoming transfer signings. One of which of course must be a top quality striker’s signing of a proven top League goals scorer of above 20 goals per season caliber.
And now that Arsenal have concluded their signing of Willian to possibly use him as replacement to the could be sold this summer in the player of Guendouzi. who by all accounts Arsenal are believed will likely offload him this summer to raise fund to recoup. But if they don’t sign a new top quality striker this summer, who if signed should be of a proven top League goals scorer scoring goals in their high numbers at the top level of the game. Who if they signed should be used to partner with Auba, Laca, Pepe and the new incoming Willian for a formidable Arsenal quadrant striker strike force for campaign in the PL next season could be tantamount to Arsenal not showing the high level ambition that is required necessary for them to put in place if Arsenal are to win the PL title again next season. Which us Gooners all are graving to see happened for Arsenal again in the PL next season. And finally, it should be great for us the Arsenals if the club succeeded this summer to sign Thomas Partey. Whose signing should make the Gunners stronger than they were last season in the defensive midfield area during next season’s campaign in the PL and Europa. Notwithstanding, Arsenal should also sign Philippe Coutihno this summer. Who for 2 summer windows running has been linked in the media with arriving to Arsenal either on a loan deal or on the permanently basis to play for the club.. And also I seriously think and believe Arsenal should this summer reinforced their defense-line by doing a high caliber centreback signing. But which CB should Arsenal sign for this purpose? Gabriel Maglhaes? Well, I wouldn’t know precisely who they will sign. But at any rate, I think Arsenal should do the centreback and CMF signings this summer to enriched their options in these 2 area in the squad as well as boost then outstandingly against next season’s campaign in the PL and Europa League.
Going by the media hypes hyping the Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard and especially the Rangers FC Alfredo Morelo,. Who both could all be okay and fine for Arsenal if they sign any of these duo Scottish Premier top strikers. But for me, Danny Ings 29 of Southampton FC who has already have Premier League games playing experience and have scored 22 times in the PL last season for the Saints should be the new striker’s signing who I think Arsenal should pursue to sign him this summer. For, I think he will not only be a good addition to Arsenal 1st team this summer but a better one than the 2 Scottish Premier top strikers who I have mentioned above. But if any of them is signed by Arsenal this summer, he will likely have to first take some times to settle down in the team before picking up to start to play the high level Premier League football playing and scoring goals in the double digits number for Arsenal that will be their demands demanded of him to be doing for the club consistently. However, because Ings who already has been playing in the PL and scored goals in their high numbers for the Saints consistently last season may not need much time to settle down in the Arsenal first team before he will start impacting effectively for the club in the PL scoring goals for funs for Arsenal in both the PL & Europa next season’s campaign.
Nevertheless, Ings signing by Arsenal this summer or any other striker of his caliber and stature should not be premised on if Aubameyang extends his contract deal at club or not this summer as he is still obliged by contract obligation to honour his current contract at the club to stay at Arsenal for the whole of next season even if he refused to extend his staying at the club this summer or next winter window. But I wouldn’t be blaming Arsenal should they decided to cash in on his likely and unlikely wanting to stay or leave the club on transfer this summer. And use the big money transfer fee they’ve gotten on his sale for signing some incoming transfer targets they need. One of which of course must be a top quality striker’s signing of a proven top League goals scorer of above 20 goals per season caliber.
And now that Arsenal have concluded their signing of Willian to possibly use him as replacement to the could be sold this summer in the player of Guendouzi. who by all accounts Arsenal are believed will likely offload him this summer to raise fund to recoup. But if they don’t sign a new top quality striker this summer as they should, whom if they sign should be of a proven top League goals scorer scoring goals in their high numbers at the top level of the game. Who when signed should be used to partner Auba, Laca, Pepe and the new incoming Willian for a formidable Arsenal quartet strike force strikers for campaign in the PL next season. But if they didn’t, this could be tantamount to Arsenal not showing the high level ambition that is required and necessary show by any top teams challenging for the PL title win. Therefore should not only show this ambition but put in place during this summer transfer window if they are to win the PL title again next season. Which us Gooners all have been graving for to see it happen for Arsenal again in the PL next season. And finally, wouldn’t it be great for us the Arsenals if the club succeeded this summer to sign Thomas Partey? Whose signing by Arsenal should make the Gunners stronger than they were last season in the defensive midfield area during next season’s campaign in the PL and Europa. Furthermore, Arsenal could also sign Philippe Coutihno this summer. Who for 2 summer windows running has been linked in the media with arriving to Arsenal either on a loan deal or on the permanently basis to play for the club. And also I seriously think and believe Arsenal should this summer reinforced their defense-line by doing a high caliber centreback signing. But which CB should Arsenal sign for this purpose? Gabriel Maglhaes? Well, I wouldn’t know precisely who they will sign. But at any rate, I think Arsenal should do the centreback and CDMF signings this summer to enriched their options in these 2 area in the squad as well as boost then outstandingly against next season’s campaign in the PL and Europa League.