Arsenal £30m transfer target suffers cruel injury setback

Tariq Lamptey the Ideal Summer Signing for Arsenal

In the eventuality that Bellerin bids farewell to the Premier League at the end of the season – an increasingly likely outcome – he will free up a homegrown spot in the squad.

This is an area Arsenal must be wary about ahead of the coming campaign with the futures of numerous academy graduates in the balance. Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock are both on loan spells away, with neither currently staking a claim for a long-term future at Arsenal.

Maitland-Niles has been granted his wish of playing in central midfield at West Brom, an opportunity he is yet to take advantage of. Casual outings and sloppiness on the ball are not desired traits for someone of his position. Willock has been more impressive yet still is some way off a starting berth under Arteta, thus a loan or permanent move could materialise.

There is also Calum Chambers and Reiss Nelson who are irregular fixtures, and permanent moves elsewhere are on the cards.

Whoever replaces Bellerin would ideally suit the homegrown quota, which Lamptey does, although solely from a talent perspective there are few better candidates. Blistering pace is matched with an explosiveness in and out of possession. He may only be small but he relishes the physical aspect and never shies away from being clattered, or dishing one out.

He’s exciting, young, hungry to develop and has scope to improve further. What will be key in Arsenal’s adoration is his tactical understanding, having absorbed Graham Potter’s philosophy in quick time and shown a maturity in positioning and game management.

All areas of his game in need of fine-tuning will be traits Arteta will be able to mould accordingly, including his preference for inverted full-backs who can drift infield. It would be a considerable outlay, granted, but if Brighton fail to avoid relegation this season his price may drop to an unavoidably enticing number.