Arsenal transfer business lacking first team impact – yet

What Arsenal have brought in so far this window, excluding timing, is encouraging. Two permanent additions with huge upside that will add depth in key areas for relatively low fees. Unfortunately, we can’t exclude timing. It’s quite important.

That timing is about three weeks. Arsenal will travel to the Brentford Community Stadium for the opening fixture of the Premier League season and with the clock ticking down there have been no improvements on the starting lineup.

Should supporters be worried? There are plenty who will be, that’s for sure.

Nuno Tavares was first up and while his only 45 minutes in an Arsenal shirt have offered a small glimpse into his exciting talent, Kieran Tierney is the number one left-back and his role will not be more than backup.

Arsenal transfer business lacking first team impact with Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga signings not aiding Arteta’s starting lineup

Albert Sambi Lokonga has more chance of a first team impact next season after his arrival from Anderlecht and the possibility of playing as a box-to-box midfielder or as a No. 6 heightens his chances. Not least because there aren’t many others to be challenging him.

Again, however, he isn’t due to be a first team regular.

Ben White is, and when he’s fit and firing he’ll jump straight into the starting lineup. That isn’t expected to be anytime soon though with his signing not due to be officially announced until he returns from holiday and completes a medical, which will be the end of July.

There is plenty of mitigation as to why the window has gone slowly so far for Arsenal and the struggles they face in selling their overpaid, fringe players are not easily overcome. Yet as the Gunners prepare to fly over to the USA for the Florida Cup it’s getting closer to the stage where arrivals will all come with the caveat of ‘needing to get up to speed’.

A frightening season opening for Arsenal doesn’t help settle nerves but time is on their side. Still about four transfers short, it’s obviously a case of the sooner the better. That goes without saying.

Edu has his work cut out and with three weeks until the Brentford clash this will arguably be his biggest audition. Arsenal are poor sellers and not especially strong buyers, but Mikel Arteta will have made it abundantly clear that his starting lineup needs improving come opening day and with his attentions on pre-season football and the squad at hand, Edu and Richard Garlick best have a few presents waiting for him when he gets back.

There won’t be many especially reassured faces if Mohamed Elneny is read out on the teamsheet on August 13. Three big weeks coming up. Here’s hoping Edu and co have some tricks up their sleeves. No pitchforks just yet.