Mikel Arteta has begun laying the foundations of revolutionizing Arsenal, perhaps for the better, and it will be interesting to see the direction he and the club take in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Arteta took over a side that was in tatters but did a remarkable job of stabilizing the ship and ended the 2019-20 season by helping them win the prestigious FA Cup.
The Spaniard will be desperate to beef up his ranks in pursuance of getting into the top-four in the Premier League in the upcoming season and here are three players Arsenal should target this summer.
Philippe Coutinho
Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, and it will make a lot of sense if Arteta actually makes him sign on the dotted line.
The Brazilian recently won the Champions League while he was out on loan at Bayern Munich, bagging 3 goals and 3 assists in his 11 outings in the competition.
Although Coutinho prefers to operate from the left-wing, he is versatile enough to ply his trade from several different offensive positions, which will be beneficial for the Gunners.
More than anything else, Arsenal need experienced campaigners who can uplift the quality of their armoury and inject the winning mentality, and Coutinho could help them in their cause.
Gabriel Magalhaes
It is about time the north London based outfit looked beyond the likes of David Luiz and Sokratis who are in the twilight years of their careers and invest in youth.
With William Saliba available for selection next season, Arsenal should leave no stone unturned to lure their summer transfer target Gabriel Magalhaes to the Emirates Stadium.
With his commendable performances at the back, the 22-year-old was one of the best players for the French side, Lille, during the recently concluded campaign, having made 24 appearances in Ligue 1.
He made 1.7 tackles and 3.3 clearances on an average and could end up forging a formidable long-term partnership with William Saliba under Arteta.
Florian Grillitsch
Lucas Torreira has flattered to deceive in the Arsenal shirt following his move from Sampdoria a couple of years ago and Dani Ceballos’ future hangs in the balance.
Arsenal are in a dire need of a central defensive midfielder who can not only provide a defensive cover but also offers a creative edge.
1889 Hoffenheim midfield ace Florian Grillitsch could be a shrewd signing as he could form a double-pivot with Granit Xhaka. He is also capable of playing in advanced midfield and given the need for fresh legs in the Arsenal side, he could end up being a decent bet.
Grillitsch is also an excellent passer of the ball, having carved an impressive pass completion rate of 88% in the German Bundesliga last season, and should suit Arteta’s philosophy of pressing hard and making the most of the possession.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
