Arsenal: Ousmane Dembele brilliant but down pecking order

Barcelona are reportedly wanting to send Ousmane Dembele out on loan this summer. While he would be brilliant, the winger comes along way down the pecking order.

Arsenal have a whole lot of needs to fill this summer. From the prolonged and obvious holes like defensive midfield and centre-half to the more nuanced and uncertain positions like goalkeeper, full-back and a playmaking midfielder, you could easily make an argument that they need six players to challenge for a title, even if Arsene Wenger protests it is more like two or three.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast right here

Of those many areas of need, not many come in the attacking areas of the pitch. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are two excellent centre-forwards; Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil are top-tier creators; even the likes of Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck provide healthy and versatile competition and depth.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

That said, if there is a place in which some investment could be required this summer, it is in the wide areas. Currently, Arsenal field two from Ozil, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang on the flanks. None are at their most comfortable out wide, though they have the capabilities to play the position nicely, and Ozil and Mkhitaryan have very similar styles, drifting inside from off their wing, often narrowing the angle of the attack.

There is an absence of a true and traditional wide man, someone who can beat a defender or two with the ball at his feet and whip a dangerous cross into the box, someone who is willing to be direct, intentional, and driven with their play, someone who can make runs in behind from out wide and add to the goalscoring options in the squad. And there is the chance that such a player could come available, even if only on a temporary basis.

Barcelona, per Guillem Balague and a raft of other reporters, are considering the possibility of sending Ousmane Dembele out on loan this season to provide the young attacker with more game time after a frustrating, underwhelming, and injury-stricken first season in which his role at the club gradually declined.

The former Dortmund attacker, who was reportedly recruited by Sven Mislintat, Arsenal’s new Head of Recruitment, turned 21 this week. He is still very young. He is also a little raw and inconsistent. But his talent is vast and his potential in this team is tremendous. However, as outlined above, there is a myriad of different positions that need bolstering this summer. Why should precious resources be invested on a player who is not necessarily needed at the club, even if those resources are limited by the structure of the deal as a loan?

It is a fair question to ask, one that presents a dilemma for Arsenal. Do they sign a wonderfully gifted player who would certainly help but at the possible extent of more pressing issues, or do they prioritise their problems and solve the most troubling first, knowing that they may miss out on or be unable to afford a player as rare as Dembele?

Next: Arsenal: 3 must-sign dream players

It is a question that is extremely difficult to answer. I tend to lean towards the former. We will see if Mislintat and co. agree.