The transfer window changes so fast. This time last week Arsenal were looking at the potential of signing Gabriel Jesus, Lisandro Martinez and Raphinha, and presently just one of the trio appears the reality.
The hope will be with how quickly things go in one direction they can equally turn as fast in the opposite and back to a better place. However, with Arsenal being frustrated in their pursuit of Lisandro Martinez by Manchester United, it is difficult to see things positively.
That said, the race remains open and neither side has yet agreed on a fee with Ajax for the Argentine. The player is currently away on holiday whilst the Premier League clubs tussle and the Eredivisie side holds out for the maximum fee it can get.
READ MORE: Arsenal's £34m Lisandro Martinez bidding process explained amid negotiation frustration
Goal, however, are reporting that the Gunners remain with a good chance of luring the player to the club. Mikel Arteta is said to be admired by Martinez for his ideas.
Were Arsenal to turn this around it would represent a major win for Arteta and prove again, after Gabriel Jesus, the pulling power the relatively inexperienced coach has. Especially when the victory would come at the expense of new Man United head coach Erik ten Hag.
What is also interesting is a report by The Athletic claim the club see the 24-year-old as more a left-back than the natural central defensive position he played last season. It has been clear Arsenal appreciate the player for his versatility, a quality Arteta is looking to demand from most if not all of his potential targets.
Look at the players signed in the past two summers and all can play more than just one role. Ben White can operate as a right-back. Takehiro Tomiyasu can be fielded centrally or even on the left. Albert Sambi Lokonga has played as a six and an eight in central midfield.
Nuno Tavares can play as a left-back or slightly further forward coming off the bench to play ahead of Kieran Tierney. Martin Odegaard can play in right central midfield, at ten or even in a wide role. Fabio Vieira can play in numerous attacking roles and the incoming Gabriel Jesus can play across the front three.
Should Martinez fall out of the picture, it’d make sense for the club then to move back for previously linked Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian is admired by Mikel Arteta and can play in both midfield and in the left-back role the Spaniard clearly wants competition for Kieran Tierney.
The benefit of Arsenal completing their work so early on in the window for four targets means that there remains plenty of time to move for alternative players. The challenge is ensuring that those other targets are not a drop in quality, or at the very least not a significant drop, and they can reinforce the strength of the team.
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