Arsenal central midfield transfer hunt should be calm

August 13 is right around the corner. August 31 is slightly further ahead. They represent two crucial dates for Arsenal to be keeping their eyes on, even if the latter looks like being the focal point.

Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira and, it was thought, Granit Xhaka would all either leave or have already left this summer. Deals being dragged out for whatever reason, come the window slamming shut it seemed a miracle if any of the trio were to still be in north London.

Only Xhaka’s departure, however, requires amendment. It is also the most important transfer Arsenal will make all summer, if we’re being pushed to rank them. Maybe they’ll not bother if the Swiss accepts the contract offer. But if he doesn’t, and is sold, the situation calls for calm.

So far there have been numerous names linked. It started out with Yves Bissouma, the destroyer type No. 6 who would unleash Thomas Partey as a box-to-box midfielder. Ruben Neves was next up after Arsenal made initial contact with Wolves, speculation that has since died down but still simmers.

Arsenal central midfield transfer hunt calls for calm as Mikel Arteta seeks to sign Thomas Partey’s ideal partner in the summer window

Then Manuel Locatelli, among others, emerged as an audacious contender. A wonderfully gifted midfielder with qualities to die for who would complement Partey superbly. That was a lost cause from the off, even if Arsenal gave it a good crack.

Most recently, Bruno Guimarães has emerged as a contender, offering an all-round skillset at a fraction of his worth with Lyon in desperate need to raise funds to offset the financial losses they’ve suffered.

What links them all together? The answer is simple: they don’t play for Arsenal.

And that doesn’t call for panic. Does it call for some concern? Absolutely, since whoever replaces Xhaka has to be ready to jump into the Arsenal midfield and make an immediate impact. Bedding in periods aren’t as forgivable in the centre of the park, not least under Arteta where the Swiss captain was a vital cog in his visionary machine. Brentford in the Premier League opener inches closer.

While the timing of the midfield arrival isn’t ideal, the situation calls for calm. It asks for patience since there is no conceivable possibility that come 23:00 BST on August 31 Arsenal will not have someone in that slot. Impossible. There is no way to shimmy around this element. It has to happen, it will happen if Xhaka departs.

The recruitment team may not have many allies among the fanbase. They’ve made errors before and will likely make errors again. They may well acquire the wrong man for this job. Should they do so then public can raise a furore over their incapacity to handle the job.

But they will sign someone. They have to. Arteta is no fool; he knows the value of Xhaka in his team; he understands how detrimental it would be to entrust Albert Sambi Lokonga with that amount of responsibility.

That elusive central midfielder will arrive if push comes to shove. He has to.