Arsenal: 4 biggest transfer window questions remaining

2. What Will the Starting Midfield Look Like?

Arteta is expected to continue utilizing a 4-2-3-1, with Emile Smith Rowe fittingly playing as the No. 10. With Martin Odegaard back at Real Madrid, it remains to be seen if we can further strengthen this area of the pitch.

It would seem ludicrous to burden the 21 year-old with that level of responsibility for a full season, but at the moment there is no true competition or cover for his position. The debate on what to do with Joe Willock remains, but he is a different type of player who appears better suited to a counter-attacking team, as we saw at Newcastle.

Granit Xhaka has been linked with Roma for much of the summer, but Jose Mourinho’s team are apparently unwilling to meet Arsenal’s asking price for the Swiss International. If the 28 year-old now stays, it is expected that he will continue to partner Thomas Partey in a double pivot. That may have to wait with the latter set for a spell out of action.

While Lokonga initially seemed like a signing for the future, perhaps he will have a role to play as well. His three outings so far have all been strong accounts of his ability.

Still, surely we can’t go into the new season with largely the same midfield and expect to challenge for the top four? There has been interest in players ranging from Ruben Neves to Manuel Locatelli to James Maddison, but to this point no serious talks have materialized.

Midfield is the engine of the team – both at No. 10 and No. 6 – and Edu will surely be looking to bolster Arteta’s options here. Failure to do so will could endanger our season, not to mention both of their jobs.