Arsenal are still in the market for new additions this summer and despite the season starting on Friday, it is obvious that the Gunners need some reinforcements in certain areas of the squad, particularly central midfield.
Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are all injured, leaving Granit Xhaka and Mohammed Elneny as the clubs only senior central midfield options. Joe Willock is likely to be on the bench as a backup option if needed against Leicester.
For Arsenal to compete for the title they certainly need to add to those options, especially with unknown return dates for Wilshere and Cazorla and quality concerns over Coquelin. Arsenal had been linked several times with Nice midfielder Jean Seri, but reports around a deal have quietened down for now and Barcelona are now being strongly linked.
Wenger will surely be alerted to the news that Sevilla midfielder, Steven N’Zonzi, has handed in a transfer request. The Frenchman and former Stoke midfielder has excelled in Spain and has a €40million release clause. He would add some much-needed physicality to the Arsenal midfield and he’s also a very dynamic midfielder for his size.
Arsenal have several attack minded midfielders, but beyond Xhaka and Coquelin, their defensive minded midfield options are limited, and whilst N’Zonzi’s effectiveness is not limited to defensive areas, it is certainly his strength.
The Gunners have often been labelled too soft in recent seasons, but having a central midfield duo of N’Zonzi and Xhaka would certainly change that. Both are tall, strong and aggressive players that would make Arsenal are team very hard to bully.
Stay tuned to the website and @Fresh_Arsenal for the latest transfer news this summer.