Arsenal have named their squad for the Premier League season and the opportunity to bring in free agents remains on the table.
Following the closure of the transfer window at the start of this month, the 20 top-flight clubs have been going through the process of compiling their 25-man squads for the upcoming season. But despite another busy period in the transfer market, Mikel Arteta has named just 21 players over the age of 21.
The Gunners splashed the cash ahead of the new campaign, bringing in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, Fabio Vieira from FC Porto and Marquinhos and Matt Turner from Sao Paulo and New England Revolution respectively.
It’s the latest show of faith from Emirates bosses, who are desperate to see the Gunners back in the Champions League for the first time since 2016. Arteta’s troops missed out in agonising fashion last time around, collapsing in the final weeks of the season to hand Tottenham fourth place.
But the early signs are pointing towards a more positive campaign with the Gunners top of the Premier League table with five wins from their first six league games. One potential area of concern however, has been a developing injury crisis in the middle of the park.
Thomas Partey had started the season in impressive form, but has missed the last three games with a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Mohamed Elneny is also set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a significant muscular issue himself.
Arteta had attempted to add another central midfielder on deadline day, but saw a number of bids for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz turned down. Yesterday we could have done something if it was the right player, the right deal, and something we could afford,” he admitted.
"Sometimes you have to react to something that happens, we would have done that, it was a real possibility yesterday. We tried but then we kept the discipline to say it had to be the right player for the team and the club."
However, after naming just 21 players - 14 of which do not classify as a Home Grown Player (HGP) - Arsenal could theoretically add to the resources in the coming weeks and months. Clubs are allowed no more than 17 players above the age of 21, who do not qualify as an HGP, while there is a limit of 25 in total.
A homegrown player does not have to be born in the UK, but does have to have been registered with a club in England or Wales for either three seasons or 36 months before they turn 21. And with Arsenal having the bonus of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba in the unlimited category of U21 players, Arteta does have some wiggle room.
Former Lille midfielder Xeka appears the most viable potential target with the 27-year-old unattached after leaving Lille at the end of last season. The likes of Wolves and Newcastle have both dipped into the free agent market after the transfer window, with Diego Costa moving to Molineux and Loris Karius arriving on Tyneside.
