Arsenal may have signed one midfielder already this summer, but there's talk of signing another before the summer transfer window closes amid links to Youri Tielemans and Lucas Paqueta.
Whilst the Gunners have brought in Fabio Vieira in addition to Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Matt Turner so far ahead of the new season, manager Mikel Arteta has strongly suggested that the club's business is not yet complete - although he refused to comment on any specific players.
"We never talk about players that are not ours," he said after Arsenal's 5-3 win over FC Nurnberg in a pre-season friendly as part of the club's training camp in Germany. "We can still improve the team in the market and we’re going to try to do it, but I won’t go into any specific names."
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After securing deals for the aforementioned quartet, it would appear that bolstering in defence and signing a wide forward is a top priority for the Gunners as links to Ajax's Lisandro Martinez refuses to go away whilst the pursuit of Leeds United's Raphinha indicates that Arteta is open to bringing in competition for Bukayo Saka on the right-wing.
With that said, strengthening in the middle of the park can help Arteta complete a 19-month mission as back in December 2020, the Arsenal manager revealed his long-term plan was to transition into a 4-3-3 formation having favoured a 4-2-3-1 system at the beginning of his tenure: "We want to move to a 4-3-3," he said. "But for that, you need a lot of specificity in every position but now in five or six positions, we don’t have it."
This changed during the 2021/22 campaign. Arsenal's most consistent run of form since Arteta took charge was over the festive period and it coincided with a subtle change of formation. Though the popular opinion is that on the left side of a midfield three where, to his credit, Granit Xhaka did impress at times, could be upgraded.
Therefore, as reported by football.london , Arsenal's preferred midfield target is Youri Tielemans and there's talk of a £25million move to the Emirates Stadium this summer. Although, it has also been reported that the north London outfit are pushing to sign Lyon's Lucas Paqueta.
A price tag for the Brazil international varies as The Chronicle report Paqueta could cost as much as £58million - with Newcastle United also being linked. However, Media Foot have a much lower price of 50m euros (£42.9m) as their valuation of what Lyon would accept.
Whatever the price tag is, judging by Paqueta's own admission regarding his favourite position should make any decision on Arsenal's behalf to get a deal done this summer even easier.
"The Brazil shirt is a heavy burden, with its history and five stars. It’s a great privilege to be there with any number. I intend to work hard so I find space in the team," he said, as per One Football in 2019. "Milan and Brazil have similar tactics. In Milan, I play as a left-central midfielder, which is the position I like.
"Serie A is different. It’s a more tactical League. Here (for Brazil), Tite gives me the freedom to go one step further towards the opposing box, to be freer. Playing as a left-central midfielder is the position I prefer."
However, it should be noted that Paqueta has developed since those comments with his manager at Lyon, Peter Bosz, claiming that his best position is as a number 10: "It's for sure his best position," Bosz said of Paqueta, as per Ligue1.com. "He has all the qualities to play in attack, good in front of goal, good at holding the ball up, and also his state of mind. When he's in-form he can carry us."
If taking Bosz's opinion on board, if Arsenal were to sign Paqueta then Arteta may have to revert back to a 4-2-3-1 formation to accommodate the Brazilian in his line-up. At the same time, the midfielder can be utilised as a no.8. so that would allow the Spaniard to continue with the 4-3-3 system next season.
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