Arsenal: Joe Willock sale key to summer transfer business

As Arsenal was warming up to face rivals Tottenham in its last match before the Premier League opener, one face was missing: Joe Willock. The 21-year-old has been at the centre of Newcastle’s summer business and now, barring something dramatic, the Magpies have got their man.

A deal worth up to £25m has also seen Arsenal include a sell-on clause, a vital ingredient in the contract that supporters were desperate for. Should the deal go through as expected, it will give Arsenal some much-needed funds to pursue its other targets.

Many Gunners fans have been left disheartened that one of their own Hale End products will be departing the Emirates. However, if the sale of Willock means that Mikel Arteta could then go and sign James Maddison from Leicester City, then surely that is a fair trade-off.

Having already spent over £70m on Ben White, Nuno Tavares, and Albert Lokonga, the addition of another £20m of so could prove to be the difference in Arsenal acquiring a top target or two. Or at least a step in the right direction.

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Arsenal: Joe Willock sale key to summer transfer business as Mikel Arteta eyes goalkeeper and creative midfielder reinforcements this window

With Willock looking certain to be the first permanent departure of the summer, it’s hoped many more follow before the deadline. This is a primary reason why there has not been much movement when it comes to signings – Arsenal simply has to get players off the books first.

Fringe players on huge Premier League wages are hard to move at the best of times, but with a pandemic and clubs struggling to stay afloat, it’s a situation exacerbated. Only Hector Bellerin has had serious interest while recent reports state that Graham Potter wants to bring £20m rated Eddie Nketiah to Brighton to help cure his side’s attacking woes.

While that is just speculation at this point, should an offer like that come in, then the Gunners could recoup around £40m from two of its academy products. That would go a long way in bringing in high-class players.

As Arsenal has had a rather quiet window thus far, expect their business to pick up pace as we head towards deadline day. Signing new players is crucial but what is just as imperative is getting players out, even on loan to reduce the wage bill.

While there is still some elements to play out regarding Willock’s move to Newcastle, it could set the wheels in motion for Arsenal to be far more aggressive in the transfer market. Not the player many expected to leave first but the offer appears to be too good to turn down and the same could prove true with Nketiah too.

Players like Willian, Sead Kolasinac and the like will need to be moved on, as it has become apparent that they are just not up to the standard required. Particularly when Arteta has younger players to come in who reach a far higher standard.

The Newcastle deal for Willock could be the one that finally gets Arsenal rolling in the transfer window. You’d like to think so, anyway. Having essentially sat on its hands for the majority of the off-season, should the deal go through, then there will be a significant push from the fanbase to bring in reinforcements. Even more so than currently.

This could very well be the deal needed to push Arsenal to get aggressive with just three weeks to go in the transfer window.