As the transfer window creeks open and Premier League sides are able to register their new purchases ahead of another attack on the English top-flight, how Arsenal tackle the market is one of the most important cases going.
The North London side may have a budget of just £40million if they fail to beat Chelsea in the Europa League Final at the end of May, but Unai Emery is in need of new faces throughout his first-team if the Spaniard is to make the Gunners a top-four outfit again.
Centre-half, full-back, a box-to-box midfielder and a wide man are also positions that should be targeted by Arsenal’s scouting team, as there are far too many players showing a lot while offering little at the Emirates Stadium. A new striker may even be a potential necessity if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette fulfill the rumours and join Real Madrid or FC Barcelona.
Sure, Arsenal will be able to call on the likes of Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith-Rowe again, upon their return from loan spells in the Bundesliga, but the Young Guns will only go so far in helping to cover some of the gaps Emery must now fill with Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey moving on to ventures new.
So if Emery wants to make his time in North London a success, the former Paris Saint-Germain boss will have to hit the transfer market and make wise moves. Starting with AFC Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser – a small-town gem capable of being the Gunners’ missing piece, and whose odds of leaving the Cherries are relatively low with the likes of bettingsites.ng.
Unlike some of the names linked with Arsenal of late, the 25-year-old from Aberdeen would not break the bank at the Emirates Stadium, but he is still a player capable of giving the Clock End and North Bank a reason to get off their seats and something to actually cheer about.
Only Chelsea’s Eden Hazard recorded more assists than Fraser throughout the 38 Premier League games that saw Manchester City retain the title and Arsenal finish fifth by a point. The Scotland international also ranked fourth for key passes per game and delivered the second-most crosses in the division.
And yet, the Cherries’ Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year is only said to be worth £15million, when his efforts on the South Coast suggest he should set any interested side back a great deal more.
