In the wake of Arsenal’s damaging 4-1 loss against Premier League holders Manchester City last night at the Etihad Stadium, it has become undeniably clear that Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are in desperate need of vital reinforcement – and upgrades – during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Gunners have felt the burn of another long season under Arteta that has unfortunately featured a string of injuries to key personnel, but perhaps most importantly, the reality that depth of quality in midfield has become painfully exposed in recent weeks.
Before the loss to Pep Guardiola’s Citizens, Arsenal had been run through in central spaces by the likes of Liverpool, West Ham United, and Southampton, with the temporary absence of Granit Xhaka as well as Thomas Partey’s untimely falling well out of form as one of the club’s biggest underperformers proving a death knell to the club’s title hopes.
With little trusted depth beyond the pair apart from Jorginho, it is clear that Arsenal are set to target the central spaces in the summer, just as they did in January despite being unable to prize away highly-touted Ecuadorian international Moisés Caicedo.
As links to both the aforementioned Caicedo and England star Declan Rice persisting among journalistic circles, The Athletic’s David Ornstein gave a critical update ahead of a summer transfer window that had many assuming Arsenal would look to prize both players to the Emirates Stadium.
According to Ornstein, there is a growing feeling that the Gunners will not go for both players come the summer on account of the cost involved. Receiving another boost to their finances upon their return to the Champions League in 2023-24 would have many thinking they could afford an outlay of what could be up to £160m before wages are involved, but the need to run the rule over other areas of the team may scupper those efforts.
Regardless of whether the club chooses one of Rice or Caicedo over the other, their addition to the senior side under Arteta would go a long way in helping the club build on what has been a fantastic 2022-23 in the capital.
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