Arsenal facing crucial transfer weeks ahead

Joe Willock, the young Arsenal midfielder who has shown such wonderful potential during his development with both Arsenal and Newcastle United, on loan, will now be departing north London for good. His sale to the Magpies on a permanent basis means that while Arsenal gain £25m but lose a great, young talent that might shine for years. Newcastle land their number one target

After what he did with them last season on loan it is hardly a wonder that Steve Bruce wanted him back, and hardly a shock that he wished to go. He was getting play time and looked as though he was capable of contributing on a winning club if given the chance.

That Arteta did not value the young man enough is disappointing I think, especially as the team needs more creative and dangerous pieces. The boss did not clearly believe that he was an answer at Arsenal and so he is gone – the team has £25m more than it did before.

Two questions remain for this club at this moment: who else will leave the club and who else will be brought in by the club during the rest of this summer window?

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Joe Willock is out for Arsenal so who will come in and who else is departing this summer transfer window

There are names that could make way in the last August flurry: Willian Borges, Alexandre Lacazette, Lucas Torreira, Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and, in truth, many more. This list is a troubling one for me personally, but business is business.

I would sell Torreira and keep Maitland-Niles. The young Arsenal product wants to play in the midfield, a space opened by Willock’s departure, while he remains a remarkable utility player.

Maitland-Niles would have to improve his defensive focus, yet what he could provide in advanced areas as well as from a passing standpoint would be of use to Arsenal.

Getting rid of young, obviously talented players is always difficult. While Hector Bellerin is almost certainly gone from north London eventually, his injury history explains this better than his ability to play. Selling the likes of Willock and Maitland-Niles, even if to fund the purchase of a creative midfielder, feels like a shame, as there have to be other ways in which this can be accomplished. Sadly, Arsenal have precious few valuable assets.

Bringing in either Martin Odegaard or James Maddison will definitely supercharge the club, but at what cost? Arsenal need to make some money back during this transfer window and the Kroenke’s have, despite the fan outrage that persists, spent money this summer.

There is no doubt that players like the aforementioned on the transfer block, as well as others, must be sold to raise capital for the continued Arteta overhaul.

It feels like Arsenal just need to keep inching their way closer to a financial figure in the transfer coffers that the Kroenke’s can feel positive about contributing to: moving Willian, Torreira, perhaps Laca if the money is good enough, could get the club closer to that number that the owners can make up the difference regarding. At that point, purchasing the expensive creative midfielders, or someone else even, will be a reasonable proposition.

Next season, it is hoped that William Saliba will finally be back with his parent club and should, with all luck, be the depth behind Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White that the Gunners need. Until then, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding will have to do as Premier League cover.

With the work that Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe have put in this summer, they will be looked at to contribute more consistently and tangibly for Arsenal this season.

Yet that middle of the pitch still requires some reworking, even with the new contract of Granit Xhaka. Arsenal will have to purchase that player, and they will have to do it soon. Who they use, now that the wiley Willock is departing, remains to be seen. Maitland-Niles could fill in.

Some of those who end up leaving will be sorely missed, with the exception of Torreira who faded away, even if he might still be a useful player were he to get some confidence back into himself. Those who come in will have to bring the heat, so to speak, for what the team will have spent in talent and capital to get them should not be understated or overlooked.