Arsenal: 3 free agents Arteta should be looking at for rebuild

As the game against Slavia Prague showed, but was already painfully clear, this Arsenal squad just is miles away from the overall quality it needs. Mediocrity is riddled throughout the team, from the keeper all the way to the forwards.

Arsenal will need major rebuilding in the summer just to compete for the Europa League places, let alone top four. But, as always, there’s no money in the bank.

So much of what Arsenal can do in the transfer market hinges on two aspects. Firstly, whether the club will be starting next season with European football will have a dramatic impact on what is even available to them.

The situation now is that Arsenal are more likely of Champions League football than Europa League football, which is quite startling.

Arsenal: 3 free agents Mikel Arteta should be looking at for rebuild in the summer transfer window

Secondly, the number of players who would be up for sale if an appropriate offer came in hovers comfortably into double figures. It’s not a case of selling players will help the funds, they’re utterly paramount, both for wages and profit.

As Arteta and Edu look to shape the squad for the future, they have to look at free agents. Signings that can feasibly elevate Arsenal, unlike the free signing of Willian which has alternated between poor and outright disastrous.

Here are three players out of contract this summer that should be the focus of Arsenal’s recruitment, from most reasonable to a world-class dream signing.

Jordan Amavi – Marseille

Kieran Tierney has been the standout performer of this Arsenal squad. He’s a vocal leader, he’s young and the energy he provides is infectious (not too mention his on-the-ball qualities). Unfortunately for the Scottish left-back, injuries have forced him to spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines. Whether he is injury-prone or is just feeling the effects of a particularly compressed and strenuous campaign is yet to be seen. Regardless, he needs a backup.

Enter Jordan Amavi, who has been heavily linked with a north London switch since the summer. The French defender has plied his trade primarily for Marseille in Ligue 1. Although many are quick to attack the “farmers league”, this season has shown the competitiveness of the teams, including Marseille, fighting for the title and Champions League football.

Amavi would be comfortably second-choice at Arsenal. He is exactly what a backup should be: solid. He can defend and he can get forward as well. He’s aggressive in the tackle and competitive when darting down the byline. He has a real hunger to do both sides of his job as a modern full-back.

Arteta’s buildup relies heavily on the relationship between wingers and the full-back on the corresponding side. Throwing in Cedric has hampered Arsenal’s passing movements and his preference in using his right foot has led to multiple errors this season. A naturally left-footed defender will help maintain balance and structure when Tierney gets injured.

Additionally, having a traditional, overlapping full-back will allow the winger to cut inside. Arteta seems to like inverted wingers, playing both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Emil Smith Rowe on the left this season. While Amavi may not be the flashiest signing, a free transfer for a dependable defending deputy will go a long way towards filling in the gaps in this porous Arsenal squad.