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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Tielemans or Neves sign, no Isak deal - Arsenal's best and worst case transfer deadline day

For the second time this season, it's transfer deadline day! But what's in store for Arsenal?

Five months ago the Gunners were busy all the way up until the summer transfer window closed, bringing in Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna whilst letting Reiss Nelson, Hector Bellerin and Runar Alex Runarsson leave on loan.

The Japan international along with Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Benjamin White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale were the six new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium tasked with ensuring the club are back in Europe next season.

In total, those deals cost Arsenal in the region of £145million - the highest money spent of any team in the Premier League - which may explain a lack of activity so far this window in terms of incomings.

But in fairness, after a dismal start to the season, it's safe to say that at one point or another in the past few months, all six summer signings have played a key role in making sure Mikel Arteta's side are genuine top-four contenders.

With that said, one or two astute signings on deadline day just might give the north London outfit the advantage over West Ham United, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves in the race for that final Champions League spot.

And who's to say that with three games in hand on Chelsea, a top-three finish is out of the question for Arsenal?

Speaking after last weekend's frustrating goalless draw at home to Burnley, Arteta did admit to wanting to bolster his squad this month - but only on one condition.

"We have to make the right decisions with players that we believe are really going to help us, and try to bring as well the ones that are going to take us to the next level," he said. "Players that come here it has to be to take us to the next level.

"We already have a level and we want to see much better standards than we already have. That’s the standard we want to recruit."

So, Arsenal fans brace yourself for a hectic transfer deadline day as we take you through what would be the best and worst-case scenario.

Best case

The blueprint for a successful transfer window at Arsenal was laid down by Arteta and Edu in the summer, but they haven't quite managed to follow it this month.

Their plan going into the summer was to sign a homegrown goalkeeper, a back-up left-back, a creative midfielder and a replacement for David Luiz who departed on a free when his contract expired last June.

In signing Tavares, White, Ramsdale and Odegaard before August 31, it was mission complete nice and early. In addition, there was also the luxury of bringing in Lokonga which in turn allowed Arteta and Edu to focus on sorting the right-back situation on deadline day.

As a result, before the January window opened, Arsenal fans would have most likely asked for 'more of the same' from Arteta and Edu.

That's not happened yet, but there's still time for that to change.

However, in getting Sead Kolasinac and Calum Chambers off the wage bill and sorting Folarin Balogun's loan move, it's not been a terrible transfer window by any means, although it would probably get a rating of below 2/10 as things stand.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang no longer in favour, Eddie Nketiah linked with Newcastle United and Alexandre Lacazette out of contract at the end of the season and the goals drying up of late, it's essential that a new striker is signed.

We know it won't be Dusan Vlahovic, but activating the €90million (£75.4million) release clause in Alexander Isak's contract with Real Sociedad is one deal that would delight supporters.

Bringing in a goalscorer could be the difference between playing Champions League and Europa League/ Europa Conference League football next season for Arsenal.

Whilst the midfield crisis has eased, not many would turn their noses up at one of Ruben Neves, Renato Sanches or Douglas Luiz adding quality in the engine room.

There has also been talk of moving for Youri Tielemans at the end of the season, but speeding up that process to get him in six months ahead of schedule would improve Arsenal's midfield.

In terms of outgoings, the Aubameyang situation has gone on far too long and it's looking like a solution is near. A permanent exit would be ideal, but a loan deal with Barcelona paying a big portion of his wages is the next best thing.

Two signings on deadline day might be wishful thinking, but bringing in a new striker and midfielder coupled with getting Aubameyang's wages off the book and those earlier deals would represent a good transfer deadline day.

Worst case

As things stand, if none of the above happens it would be regarded as an opportunity missed.

What would make matters even worse is if goalkeeper Matt Turner is the only signing Arsenal make this month - and his move won't even be completed until the summer.

Arsenal need to sign a striker, so one signing today is the absolute minimum as anything less wouldn't go down well amongst the fanbase.

Qualifying for the Champions League next season, ending their five-year absence from Europe's top table essentially depends on luring a top-quality centre-forward to the Emirates.

Whether the Gunners can lure one of Isak and Calvert-Lewin to the club remains to be seen, but with Aubameyang and Nketiah potentially leaving, it would be a tough ask for Lacazette to carry the fight in a top-four battle.

Simply put, Arteta can't be left short in this department come 11pm tonight.

Whilst Aubameyang has not been at his best over the 18 months, there is an argument that he is still Arsenal's best goalscorer and he can be effective if chances are created for him.

Selling him and not signing a replacement to take up the mantle of chief goalscorer would be a huge risk that has every chance of backfiring and costing the Gunners a top four finish.

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