Arsenal: 3 uncertainties during summer transfer window

Uncertainties? What uncertainties? Arsenal are going to go out and trump Manchester City to the signing of Jack Grealish, pip Juventus to the Manuel Locatelli post and win the treble next season. Nothing to worry about.

If only. Even as Arsenal close in on their first two signings this transfer window, the following ten weeks or so are riddled with uncertainties. Ben White looks like putting pen to paper on deal worth £50m and Albert Sambi Lokonga seems to be edging closer to donning the red and white, but we still aren’t totally sure.

Beyond just the odd couple of signings, what is to come between now and August 31 remains mostly a mystery. Supporters know what they would like to achieve and they’re fairly well versed in what the club wants to do thanks to reliable reporting, yet nothing is set in stone.

Looking at it simply, Arsenal need to purchase a strong group of players and sell an absolute mountain load.

Arsenal: 3 main uncertainties during summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta and Edu prepare for significant squad overhaul

Goalkeeper may well see two additions, but at the least one; central defence will be followed by the possibility of two full-backs; central midfield needs significant surgery and an elite Granit Xhaka replacement is essential; Martin Odegaard looks like a lost deal and a playmaker/No. 10 has to arrive to shoulder the burden on Emile Smith Rowe.

For every one of those positions there will be equal if not more in terms of the outgoings. This rebuild is not just about upgrading what the club have, it’s about clearing the path of weeds growing out of place and then jet washing the pavement ready for the road ahead.

‘Weeds’ might be a tad strong in some cases but the point remains.

While there will be, there shouldn’t be any judging of what has already transpired in north London as all criticism or praise is best left until the window slams such later this summer. Then the tirade of abuse or extremely premature calls for ‘winning the transfer window’ can reverberate.

Between then and now, there are three uncertainties we wait anxiously to see play out.

1. What Are Arsenal’s Priorities This Window?

A fitting point to make amid the impending arrival of White.

There has been a fair share of knee-jerk reactions to the pursuit of the 23-year-old, the majority centering around the concept of: why are Arsenal buying a central defender?

The reasons for White’s addition have been discussed at length regarding what he can bring Arsenal in terms of systematic changes and exciting skillset, as well as whether it’s a pointless move when there is a £27m defender ready for his turn who boasts his own distribution qualities.

Beyond that, it’s sparked some debate as to why Arteta is prioritising centre-back this summer when the undeniable area of concern is creatively – and finding a way for the Gunners to score more goals.

Of course, White’s arrival will help with the build-up but what is important to focus on is that just because this deal is being targeted first doesn’t mean it’s number one priority this summer.

Players garner interest from far and wide and others may find themselves in situations where their signatures are more obtainable as the summer progresses. Bringing in White first does not imply Arsenal have completed their most vital task. The window is just over 17% of the way through and there is time to address the creative issues and those in central midfield, as well as the rest.

If come September no No.10 is sourced and only one central midfielder arrives, then the pitchforks can come out. There is a plan at work supporters are unbeknownst to and while we don’t know what it is, we have to believe it’s there.

2. How Much Money Do Arsenal Have This Summer Window?

This carries on from the first point as a large part of the concern surrounding White’s arrival is that £50m is a lot of money.

Moreover, it’s a lot of money to be spending on a position that was widely regarded as being among the least important this summer. Nobody saw Arsenal sanctioning that level of outlay, let alone on a centre-back.

Which can mean one of two things:

• Arsenal are very, very stupid and have no idea about resource distribution
• Ben White is actually a No. 10
• Arsenal have more money than we thought

Even by Arsenal standards, they can’t be this foolish to blow the budget on a centre-back when there could well be two midfielders left at the end of the window and both of them are flying off to AFCON in the winter.

So it appears there is more in the piggy bank than anticipated. Worryingly, there is uncertainty as to how it got there, with it currently looking like good ol’ Barclays are funding this splurge with the undisclosed loan the Gunners have taken out; one that can be spent willy nilly.

It may well be that KSE have stumped up a ‘war chest’, although you’d back that being closer to a skirmish briefcase.

However much this bank balance may be reading, it has to be spent incredibly wisely. If it is loan money and Arsenal go throwing it at players who have them back in eighth place next Premier League season then the club will be in deep, deep ****.

So, spend it on the right areas and the right players. Simple, right?

3. How Many Players Can Arsenal Sell This Window?

Following on from how much cash there is to expend, whatever the transfer kitty may be it will have to be supplemented with player sales.

There are a tonne of bodies to get out of north London this summer and we can only thank the heavens above that Richard Garlick was able to take up his new role at the club sooner than originally planned. The fall-out of the Super League scandal fast-tracked his appointment, having initially been penciled in for the end of the campaign.

With the number of players either out on loan or with contracts expiring by 2023 coming up to 20, the volume of work is extensive.

Shifting attention to shipping players out once the two aforementioned deals are secured, the real work, in many ways, starts now. However, we just don’t know how much can be feasibly achieved in one window.

The striker situation is one that exemplifies the situation best: Eddie Nketiah has no future at Arsenal and will be sold at some point, but the club opted to offer him a new deal to keep him tied down so they could sell him on later down the line for what is hoped to be a bigger fee.

As for Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal have to sell him this summer if they have any sense about them. He will garner some money and keeping him on for the final 12 months of his year is anywhere up to £20m missed out on. However, because there is such an obscene amount of futures to sort out, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him stay.

Thus, as laid out, we’re in the dark and will remain in the dark for large spells of this window. Only time will begin the clarify what we can expect from Arsenal; just keeping riding the wave until it either crashes into another or rests calmly on a tropical beach.