Are we better or worse, WTF is going on - Summer 2021 transfer thread.

Jan window is over. Might as well start talking about the summer...

• Luiz is currently set to be a FA
• Laca, Eddie, Chambers & El Neny will have 12 months (unless we extend before then)
• Dani & Odegaard will be heading back to Real and likely not returning.
• Ryan's loan will end and he could be back (should he?)
• Barring any related deals Duezy, Lucas, Willock, Saliba, Kola, Mavro & AMN all return from loan

Still looks like lots of business that will need to go down this summer to offload surplus, loan out young un's that need experience and bring in guys to improve the squad.

So let the rumors and discussion begin. Ill add my current thoughts by position in the next day or so.

 

Despite Arteta voicing his desire to move to a 4-3-3, I think such a move (full time) is likely 2-3 seasons away given our past spending habits and the number of changes that would be needed so for now I am going to assume we stick with a 4-2-3-1 and assess accordingly. My breakdown by position (available players next to each position is based on current roster as well as players loaned with no buy clause)...

GK - Leno & Runarsson
Runarsson needs to go. He is not good enough to keep around and take up a non-HG spot. Need to replace him with an academy kid and find a legit #2. Ryan could be retained but it would have to be cheap. Would rather someone younger and HG like David Raya or Freddie Woodman

LB - Tierney & Kolasinac
Tierney as the starter spot nailed down but we need someone to rotate with him. I would be incredibly surprised if Kola isn't sold back to Germany (likely Schalke) even if it means that we essentially give him away. Ideally the backup will be young & HG. Hopefully Joel Lopez gets some playing time the rest of this season and we can simply deputize him and save some cash for other positions. If Lopez isn't ready, I think we look at one of the vest with expiring contracts (Bertrand, van Aanholt, Amavi) that we were rumored to be perusing to close out Jan.

RB - Bellerin, Cedric & AMN
I think AMN will be sold this summer. He isn't getting the playing time he desires and is not happy playing RB. While we could stand to upgrade over Bellerin, this is a spot where we could stand to sit tight and wait until next summer to make a move. Seen some rumors of Inter unloading Hakimi (financial issues) with us being linked but I have a feeling guys like Chelsea (Tuchel) and City will drive the price tag too high for us.

CB - Gabi, Mari, Holding, Chambers, Saliba & Mavro
I pray that we let Luiz go ahead and walk. I understand the appeal of his "veteran presence" but he makes far too many mistakes that cost us big time. I think we sell Chambers & Mavro this window. Would like to see Saliba get his chance but I also wouldn't be terribly surprised to see him loaned or sold. We should definitely be in the market for a potential starter at RCB. No need to spend big. Just need to get someone that can give Holding a really good competition for the starting spot. Then we can keep Saliba, one of the academy kids or ??? as the 5th CB.

CM/DM - Partey, Xhaka, El Neny, Guendouzi, Willock & Torreira
I don't see us putting up any kind of fight to keep Dani. Possible that we buy him if Real is selling cheap. Wouldn't mind seeing Duezy given another shot but I think it is far more likely that he is sold. Don't see any way in hell that Torreira is retained. He will be sold or loaned again. El Neny will be entering the last year of his contract. While he has been a good squadie for us this season it is time to cash out. Won't net much but it will open a non-HG spot. I read that Willock has an extension clause in his Newcastle loan. Not sure who's idea that was but it makes me think that we likely want him on loan getting minutes next season whether it is Newcastle or somewhere else. That leaves us only Xhaka & Partey for a spot that you really need 5 guys for depth/rotation. So, get used to Xhaka wearing Arsenal for a bit longer. Assuming Willock stays on loan, I'd bet that Azeez & maybe Cottrell get a solid run with the 1st team. That still leaves us with needing 2 CMs for next season with atleast one needing to be capable of pushing Xhaka for a starting spot. Be nice if you could add a HG to group but that is not a huge must if you are bringing an academy kid or to along. You already have 2 vets at the position so I would be looking for guys 23/24 or younger. High work rate would be nice as well. Given the rumors the last month or so, I would expect a good look at Yves Bissouma. Personally wouldn't mind us making a run at Sander Berge. After that I'm not really sure where/who we would look at. Maybe Riqui Puig (not getting along with Koeman), Carlos Soler (Valencia having money issues), Weston McKinnie (Juventus likely buy him but I can dream), Boubakary Soumare, Ryan Gravenbirch or Amadou Diawara. I'm sure there are plenty of other options as well.

AM - ESR
Would be nice if we could buy Odegaard but I am not holding my breath. Gonna need someone to rotate with ESR. Ideally you want to provide competition but not reduce ESR's minutes significantly so I doubt we make a huge purchase. Likely to be another younger guy or a vet that isnt gonna demand a ton of minutes. I really don't have a good suggestion for who this should be right now. Maybe Brahim assuming he isn't sold to Milan? Wouldn't be terrible to see some young guys (Cirjan) get a run occasionally too.

W - PEA, Pepe, Martinelli, Saka, Nelson & Willian
Willian needs to go. Not sure if likely but it needs to happen. Nelson either needs to be played (rotation or sub) or loan/sell him. Saka should be the RW starter going forward just need to figure out who is gonna rotate with him. Could be Nelson or bring in someone new. Need to figure out Pepe. He has looked really good since moving to LW but that has been PEA's spot for awhile and we have too much invested in him to continue being a squadie. Martinelli looks good at LW as well but with injuries he is nowhere near ready to be crowned the starter. You really don't need PEA, Martinelli & Pepe rotating on the left so one (most likely PEA or Pepe) may need to go this summer. This will likely be an unpopular opinion but if Pepe continues to look good the remainder of the season I would seriously look at moving PEA to a UCL squad and run with Pepe & Saka as starters on the wing and Martinelli & Nelson/new guy as backups.

ST - Lacazette & Nketiah
Balogun could be in the mix but I'd bet he walks. Both Laca & Eddie will enter the summer with 12 months on their deal. Think Eddie will either be sold or re-signed and loaned. Torn on Laca. Has looked much better since we starting playing a scheme that utilizes hold up play. On the flip side, I really don't wanna give him a ridiculous extension only to see him fall off again. If you can get him to sign a reasonable contract I wouldn't be opposed to extending him for a couple years, especially if you opt to sell PEA. Regardless of what you do with him, you absolutely need to bring in a younger replacement (Edouard?). So my inclination would be to try and go next season with a vet (Laca?), a young guy pushing to start (Edouard?) and an academy kid (Balogun, John-Jules, Moller).

Summary
Possible Sales - Runarsson, Kolasinac, AMN, Chambers, Mavro, El Neny, Duezy, Torreira, Willian (hopefully), Pepe/PEA (maybe)
Possible Loans - Saliba, Willock, Nelson, Nketiah
Needs - GK, LB (maybe), CB, 2 CM, AM, ST (maybe 2)

 

He has played in the MF under Arteta atleast 1-2 times. Maybe Arteta views him as a 1/4 good MF.

 

Hopefully Lopez shows he can take the role and then this won't matter.

I could see that argument. Could even see them offer him a 1-2 yr extension if he is kept on.

Most believe Martinelli likely ends up at ST long term. However, Arteta hasn't played him there yet. Wouldn't have any issues seeing him get some minutes there.

I used to be a big "PEA needs to move central" guy but I am officially off that train. Not sure if it is our scheme or his natural tendencies but he just doesn't seem to get it done when he is at ST and his hold up play isn't half as good as Laca. I'm to the point that I think PEA plays LW or he is sold. Given his age, contract and struggles this season, I wouldn't be upset if he was sold to a UCL squad.

I could see Pepe as a RST in a 4-2-2-2 or a more counter-attacking squad. Don't see him doing well in that spot for us.