How will Arsenal's midfield look for their trip to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 4?
That clash of two English heavyweights will be significant as it is the first game after the transfer window closes on September 1. The Gunners have made some smart signings for the present and the future. Gabriel Jesus has been the pick of the bunch so far as his electric pre-season form has now carried into the 2022/23 Premier League campaign. The Brazilian, who put in a solid outing at Selhurst Park on opening night, followed that up with two goals against Leicester City in the 4-2 home win.
Oleksandr Zinchenko looks to be settling in well too as demonstrated by his decent performance in that Foxes win. The verdict is still out there on Matt Turner and Marquinhos with both yet to rack up any Premier League minutes for the first-team, while Fabio Vieira's £31.5million move from Porto has so far been disrupted by injury.
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Upon arrival to the Emirates Stadium, Vieira was carrying a minor injury which saw him miss out on the pre-season tour of the US and the early parts of this season. The Portuguese, who has been compared to compatriot Bernardo Silva, has been involved in recent Arsenal training ahead of Bournemouth despite another recent scare.
Where he fits in this new midfield remains open to interpretation, according to Mikel Arteta. "I think that’s something that the player is going to tell us," the Spaniard told to football.london. "We will try him, and we have tried him in training in different positions. He has played off the left, off the right, and as a false nine, attacking midfielder. It’s good. He doesn’t want to be locked into one position as well because he’s so used to it. That’s a really positive thing for us."
Deeper in the midfield positions, a Thomas Partey injury or Granit Xhaka suspension could leave the squad a little light for options. Mohamed Elneny could fill in but as Arteta mentioned, he may still look to do some more business to cap off a smart transfer window for his side.
The midfield and wide positions seem to be the priority ahead of the deadline if the Gunners are to add more players. Can they secure another winger to provide backup and competition to Bukayo Saka? Will they be able to sign another deep-lying midfielder?
Youri Tielemans looked on course to be that man and whilst this could still be a late move explored by Arsenal, football.london understand the Gunners are content to wait until next season to try and secure the midfielder on a free transfer.
Alternatively, Arsenal have been linked to making a late move for Brighton star Moises Caicedo who has truly impressed during his time at Brighton. Graham Potter's side are unlikely to want to cash in now with the number of key players like Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella who have already departed this summer, but as we know with football: money talks and anything is possible in that sense.
Caicedo is valued at only £17million from the CIES Football Observatory but the Seagulls will demand at least double or even triple that value at this late stage of the transfer window as they will need the big funds themselves to sign a replacement if things transpired in Arsenal's favour.
With all of this taken into account, football.london previews Arteta's potential best midfield set-up if their £136million plus transfer mission can be completed.
In this line-up, Caicedo and Partey could make a perfect defensive midfield partnership. Xhaka has started the season well but the competition added could up his game to another level.
Vieira would have to prove himself before even coming into the fray to start week in, week out - especially with the way the players have impressed since Arteta really formed his attacking line. Therefore, Odegaard will keep his place, especially after the positive start made by the midfield and attacking unit to this new Premier League season.
Arsenal fans - if Edu was to sign Moises Caicedo, who would he come in the team for Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey or neither? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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