Skip to content

What do Arsenal need before the transfer deadline?

What does Arsene Wenger need to do before the transfer deadline?

It's just over a week until the transfer window shuts, so what do Arsenal need to do before the deadline?

What are the areas in need of improvement? Who are the targets? And will Arsene Wenger splash the cash?

We look at what they've done so far, and what could happen before the 11.30pm deadline on August 31.

Ins

Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach, £34m), Rob Holding (Bolton, £2m) Takuma Asano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima, undisclosed). 

Lucas Perez (Deportivo, £17.1m) and Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia, £35m) pending. 

Major outs

Mikel Arteta (retired), Tomas Rosicky (released), Mathieu Flamini (released), Wojciech Szczesny (Roma, loan).

What do Arsenal need?

A stuttering start to the season ramped up the pressure on Wenger and exposed the holes in the Arsenal squad before a relieving win at Watford. The 4-3 defeat by Liverpool highlighted the need for a new centre-back, with Calum Chambers and Rob Holding struggling in the absence of Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, and Wenger looks to have addressed that area with the signing of Mustafi. 

Also See:

<<enter caption here>> at Avaya Stadium on July 28, 2016 in San Jose, California.
Image: Arsenal had to start Rob Holding and Calum Chambers together against Liverpool

They have problems at the other end, too. Arsenal's failed attempt to sign Jamie Vardy shows they are aware of the need to bring in a genuine alternative to Olivier Giroud - is Lucas the answer?

Who are the targets?

The Gunners have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen's Omer Toprak and Fenerbahce's Simon Kjaer, while West Brom's Jonny Evans has been mooted as another possibility.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 03:  Neymar of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Shkodran Mustafi of Valencia CF during the Copa del Rey Semi Final first
Image: Arsenal are close to signing Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi

The Vardy ship has sailed, but could the Gunners make a late move for Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette? The Gunners had a £29.3m bid for the France international rejected earlier in the summer, but five goals in his first two Ligue 1 appearances of the season have served as a reminder of his qualities. Newspaper reports have also linked the Gunners with Porto's Yacine Brahimi after Riyad Mahrez signed a new Leicester contract.

What has Wenger said?

Wenger has grown increasingly irritated by criticism of his transfer policy. "I don't understand why you say I am reluctant (to spend money)," he said after the Leicester game.

I will spend £300m if I find the player.
Arsene Wenger

"If I buy you for £45m tomorrow, does it mean I have done well? If I listen to you then I will have done well because I spent the money, but spending the money in itself is not the quality.

"Spending the money and getting a top player; that is different and we are ready to do that. I will spend £300m if I find the player, if I have £300m. We are a club who have 600 employees, who need to have a responsible attitude as well."

What's the pundit view?

Matt Le Tissier: "Probably the most glaring omission from any squad in the Premier League is Arsenal's need for a centre-back. That's before the injury problems.

If Arsenal had a Sergio Aguero in their team they'd probably win the league.
Matt Le Tissier

"A top-class centre-forward is the other one. It looks like they're making do with Olivier Giroud and then using Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck when he comes back. 

"If Arsenal had a Sergio Aguero in their team they'd probably win the league. Giroud will get you 15 or 16 goals so there's a cap on what they're likely to achieve. You know they'd go very close with a top-class striker."

What's your view?

Around Sky