Mikel Arteta could make tweaks to his Arsenal attack before the new season begins (Image: Getty)
Arsenal already have a formidable attack but Mikel Arteta will have to find room for improvement if his side are to finally overcome Manchester City this coming season. With that in mind, attacking signings cannot be ruled out before the summer deadline, while attacking exits are seemingly inevitable.
The Gunners finished second in the Premier League last campaign predominantly with Bukayo Saka on the right, Gabriel Martinelli on the left, Kai Havertz up top and Leandro Trossard providing a deadly option from the bench.
Any new signing would have a tough task fighting their way towards the top of that pecking order. How tough? Just ask Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
The out-of-favour trio, who managed only 14 Premier League starts between them last season, are all bound for the Emirates Stadium's exit door this summer. And moving them on would be a good result for Arteta in his pursuit of a balanced, harmonious squad.
Smith Rowe is expected to complete a £35million move to Fulham over the coming days, Leicester City have held talks over a loan move for Nelson, and Marseille are believed to be interested in Nketiah.
Their prospective exits could pave the way for Arteta to bank some precious cash for the club and bring in a new attacking signing. Havertz acquitted himself well up top last term, but the Gunners could do with fresh competition for the striker role in the form of an orthodox No.9.
Brian Brobbey represented the Netherlands at Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Ajax forward Brian Brobbey is believed to have admirers in north London after a 22-goal season in Amsterdam. And beating rivals Manchester United to Brobbey's signature in a £30m deal would undoubtedly improve Arteta's attack.
Having the Dutchman in direct competition with Havertz and, to a lesser extent, Gabriel Jesus, for the central role while Saka and Martinelli hold down the flanks is enough to make Arsenal supporters salivate.
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But it's not all about the first-team picture. The Gunners would also be wise to plan for the future, and the prospect of losing teenage goal machine Chido Obi-Martin to United could come back to bite them in years to come.
Arsenal revealed earlier this month that the 16-year-old striker, who scored 32 goals in 20 games for the Under-18s in 2022/23, has not signed a scholarship deal. Obi-Martin is widely expected to complete a free transfer elsewhere and begin a new adventure, but the Gunners should be pushing as hard as they can, with promises of senior minutes, for the wonderkid to change his mind.
