3 positions Arsenal must upgrade in the summer transfer window

Mikel Arteta has utterly transformed the club. While the road has not always been easy, the difficulties faced in the past make the present all the more enjoyable. From languishing in eighth and overblown fears of relegation to challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title, Arsenal have fought their way towards the top.

While they have done well thus far, they must not slip into complacency.

Currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table, brilliant performances have backed the quantitative improvement. Yet when looking closer, even the most fervent fans would acknowledge that there is a lot of work to be done. A few replacements in a few key areas could set Arsenal up for success for years to come.

3 positions Arsenal must upgrade in the summer transfer window

Here are three positions that Arsenal must upgrade in the summer window.

1. Defensive midfielder

When thinking of positions that need upgrades, defensive midfield may not be one that immediately jumps to mind. Thomas Partey has thrived as a single pivot and Jorginho has proven to be solid in his short time thus far. While both offer slightly different profiles, their quality cannot be questioned. Beyond them, however, Arsenal look light in this area.

Albert Sambi Lokonga, currently out of favour and on loan at Crystal Palace, and Mohamed Elneny, who’s poised to miss the rest of the season through injury, are the current alternatives. There is a commonality between Elneny, Partey and Jorginho: their age. Partey is the youngest at 29 years old while Elneny is 30 and Jorginho is 31. Experience has proven to be valuable in that position thus far but as Arsenal look to the future, they must start searching for and developing a younger player to eventually succeed this current crop.

Arteta has perfect clarity in his needs for that position. An athletic player able to provide penetrative passes and also cover the channels in transition is of the highest priority. Given how rare this profile is, the scouting team must start looking for options. It took Partey, a world-class talent, months to learn the demands of the role. If Arsenal want to continue challenging for titles every year, they cannot afford to bring in a young player late in the process and wait for him to acclimate after already moving past the current senior midfielders.

When this group phases out, a defensive midfielder must be ready to take the reins and continue Arsenal’s progress.

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