What should be Arsenal’s next move in the transfer market?
Arsenal have been very busy in the transfer market so far, mostly with incomings. Having brought in Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and Declan Rice for a combined £208,600,000, with David Raya also joining on a £3,000,000 initial loan, the Gunners have been expected to turn their attention to outgoings to recoup their spendings. Several first team players have already departed the club, with the likes of Granit Xhaka and Matt Turner leaving for new challenges, but these don’t come close to making up the team’s spending. Despite many fans, journalists, and pundits assuming that Arsenal had finished splashing the cash for the time being, Mikel Arteta was presented a dilemma when Jurrien Timber was ruled out for most of the season with an ACL injury. Considering the Dutchman impressed at left back since signing and Kieran Tierney seemingly heading towards the exit door, could Arteta be forced to go back into the market for a replacement?
When asked in last week’s press conference if he intends to return to the transfer market for a Timber replacement, Arteta said that he is thinking more about the resources he already has within the team. He could indeed be hinting that there is already an option available in the squad. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, and Nuno Tavares are the only natural left backs in the first team, but with the latter two looking likely to leave, it brings about the question if it would be best to bring in even just a short term replacement. It is important to acknowledge that Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu have previously played on the left for Arsenal, but it is a risky move to rely on unnatural players as backup.
Personally, I would prefer to see Arsenal bring in another left back if both Tierney and Tavares were to leave the club, even if it was just a short-term option. The past two seasons have demonstrated to Mikel Arteta how important it is to have good depth in every position on the pitch to prevent injuries having a severe impact on team performances. I am a big fan of Tierney and expected him to become club captain prior to his season ending injury in the 2021/22 campaign. That and the purchase of Zinchenko from Manchester City pushed him down the pecking order. Whilst I would prefer to see him stay, I do think he is way too good to be a second choice left back so it’d be best for the Gunners to cash in. In terms of a left back, I think it’d be wise for Arsenal to make it a priority in the final weeks of the window if they are to lose Tierney and Tavares.
Arsenal also need to get rid of several other deadwood players, with players such as Cedric Soares, Folarin Balogun, and Albert Sambi Lokonga all considered surplus to requirements. I think this should be another priority for the club as it would help make back some of the money that has been spent. It would also prevent problems within the squad as keeping unwanted players around can cause relationships between the team to turn sour.
To conclude, I feel that Arsenal’s next move in the market should be shedding some of the deadwood that remains in the squad. However, the club must be ready to find a new left back if Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares are amongst those who leave the club. If all of this is achieved prior to the window closing, I think that it would be smart for Arteta to look for a new right winger as backup to Bukayo Saka, but this shouldn’t be the priority at this current time.
