Rebuilding Arsenal: 5 steps to success for Mikel Arteta

Step 5: Invest wisely this summer

Here’s where Arteta can truly shine as a manager and show a great deal of promise – by improving the squad whilst spending hardly anything at all.

Were I in his shoes, I would look to make the most of my connections at Manchester City and look to take some players on loan.

I’d also look to raid the league leaders, Liverpool, for key fringe players and those looking to gain more game time at a top club.

Finally, I’d do my best to take advantage of those teams that are threatened by relegation with future stars in their team.

As a result, here is what my list of transfer targets would look like, though it should be said I wouldn’t expect to get all of them:

From Manchester City (on loan):

• ·       Phil Foden – an up and coming English talent looking for game time to develop. Could go a long way to rejuvenate Arsenal’s stagnant midfield. It should be said that they’d only loan him if Guardiola thought he wasn’t ready for consistent first team action (which is unlikely)
• ·       Zinchenko – a left-back-turned midfielder that would prove to be a useful utility player, currently spending most games on the bench

From Liverpool:

• ·       Marko Grujic – a young centre-defensive midfielder about to hit his prime playing years. I’d look to loan him with an option to sign him for a set fee at the end of the season if he did enough to impress
• ·       Adam Lallana – an experienced Premier League winner who’s leaving for free at the end of the season but is looking to join another top-flight club, currently linked with fellow top 4 chasers, Leicester
• ·       Xherdan Shaqiri – an assist provider, goal scorer, international teammate of Granit Xhaka, 2-time Champions League winner and now a Premier League winner too. Liverpool are rumoured to be ready to sell him for a cut-price fee

From teams threatened by relegation:

• ·       Jack Grealish – My number one target this summer. Aston Villa captain who can play left or central midfield. A young box-to-box player that provides goals, assists and helps out defensively every game.
• ·       Todd Cantwell – Norwich City attacking midfielder who’d add goals and assists. Again a view to sign him permanently as he shows a great deal of promise

Whatever his plans, Arteta is going to have to make some tough decisions.

For the sake of his career as Arsenal manager, for the sake of the fans and the overall longevity of the club, now is the time to act decisively.

Time will tell if he will be brave enough and capable of making Arsenal a force to be reckoned with once again.