There has already been plenty of debate as to where exactly Arsenal should look to strengthen in the transfer market ahead of the upcoming season.
Mikel Arteta’s squad is in desperate need of a revamp after failing to qualify for European competition for the first time in 25 years last campaign, with several areas being targeted.
New recruits could be made at goalkeeper, left-back, right back, centre-back and centre-forward, but it’s the midfield positions that arguably need the most work.
The Gunners were often slow and ponderous in their build-up play last season and are looking to address that by making additions in the central midfield and central attacking midfield positions this window.
With Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard having already left the club after their loans from Real Madrid last season – and plenty more set to follow – it could be a summer of change in the middle of the park.
With that in mind, football.london takes a look at the different ways Arsenal’s midfield could line up next season.
New look
One of the reasons it seems so certain that Arsenal are set to make changes in midfield this summer is because of the amount of outgoings that are expected.
Matteo Guendouzi is very close to completing his move to Marseille, while Granit Xhaka is nearing a move to Roma despite links to Juventus.
Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira is also available for transfer, with clubs in Italy interested in the Uruguayan, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles has admitted that he is open to a move away from the Emirates.
With that in mind, Arsenal could raise enough money to fund a few new signings.
In central midfield, several experienced names have been linked as potential replacements for Xhaka, who was actually one of the Gunners best players last season.
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Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Manuel Locatelli of Sassuolo have both been touted as more like for like replacements, but Yves Bissouma of Brighton would be the biggest upgrade.
The Mali international made more tackles and interceptions than any other player in the Premier League last season and would be the perfect partner to bring out the true box-to-box abilities of Thomas Partey.
Moving up into the central attacking midfield positions, Arsenal are also on the lookout for a number 10 to bolster the squad.
As previously mentioned, Odegaard looks set to stay at Real Madrid, while the Gunners have already tried and failed to sign Emi Buendia in an attempt to ease the creative burden on Emile Smith Rowe.
Leicester’s James Maddison has been linked, and while the rumoured asking price of more than £70million could prove problematic, he would surely be a welcome addition to Arteta’s midfield.
New look midfield – Bissouma, Partey; Maddison.
Albert Sambi Lokonga (Image: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Trust the youth
While the more experienced players have failed to deliver in recent seasons, it has been the youth who have carried Arsenal through some of those most difficult times.
The likes of Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were bright sparks in an underwhelming campaign last time out and Arteta may be tempted to trust young players to do the business for him once again.
With this in mind, it’s easy to see why they are looking to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga as they build for the future at the Emirates.
The 21-year-old midfielder is expected to complete his move from Anderlecht soon after not being included in the Belgian side’s pre-season training camp.
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He’s not expected to start every game but if he impresses, Arteta has shown that he is willing to trust youth if they impress him enough.
Lokonga could start in the midfield alongside Smith Rowe, particularly if Arsenal fail to secure another number 10 in what would be an exciting and futuristic-looking midfield.
A special mention should also be afforded for Joe Willock, who is returning to north London after his immensely successful loan move at Newcastle, where he became the youngest player in Premier League history to score in seven consecutive matches.
The England Under-21 international could also be in line for more game time after impressing up on Tyneside.
Trust the youth midfield: Lokonga, Partey; Smith Rowe.
Thomas Partey in action for Arsenal against Chelsea (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
New formation
There is of course another school of thought that suggests Arsenal will change their midfield set-up entirely going into next season.
Arteta has already indicated that his dream Gunners side would be set up in a 4-3-3 formation in order to control games better.
After promising a “ruthless” overhaul of his squad this summer, it could finally be the time that he sees his Arsenal side fulfil his desires.
In this formation, it is likely that Partey would not fill up the deep-lying midfield role that you might expect from him after being brought to north London on a promise of being able to show his true box-to-box abilities.
This would see him take up one of the ‘number eight’ roles with the other most likely being filled by Smith Rowe.
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The Gunners would then need a new recruit to play in the ‘number six’ role who could build up play while being mobile enough to defend on the counter-attack.
You could take your pick of any of the names mentioned above for this role, but again it’s Bissouma who looks like the most sensible recruit to help make Arteta’s dreams a reality.
New formation midfield: Bissouma; Partey, Smith Rowe