Is midfield Arsenal's 'Greatest need' this summer?

Arsenal came so close to usurping Manchester City for the Premier League title, and as the summer transfer business begins, is midfield the more pressing need?

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad came so close to overthrowing Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut for the league title, and business has already begun to close the gap even further.

But which position is of urgent importance for Arteta to upgrade?

A new left-back has been mentioned with Olek Zinchenko not instilling confidence, then there's a genuine striker to tie everything together going forward.

For GOAL.com, it's midfield where Arsenal's more pressing issues are.

"Perhaps the position of greatest need, though, is midfield," GOAL.com writes. "Once Thomas Partey was finally available in the final months of the campaign, he finished strongly, with his presence also freeing up Rice to have more influence higher up the pitch. But the Ghanaian's maddening fitness issues mean his status is uncertain heading into the summer. If Arteta wants to continue using Rice as a No.8, another deeper-lying midfielder is needed."

Midfield does seem like the logical choice for the Gunners. Partey is being rumored to potentially be on the move this summer, and with Mohamed Elneny already gone, there are holes in the squad Arteta has to fill.

The Gunners' Premier League goal tally of 91 suggests that a new striker isn't the be-all and end-all this summer. However, having a genuine frontman for Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz to feed would be nice, but finding a reliable partner for Rice feels like job No. 1.

Partey showed that when fit, he can still be world-class. However, he simply can't be relied upon any more, and in truth, Arteta's project is now at a stage where he could be deemed surplus to requirements.

Arsenal have the firepower and the defensive solidity to still be considered a top team in Europe, but getting Rice help looms as the greatest need for a Gunners team desperate to end City's run of domestic dominance.

And a new star central midfielder might just be the final infinity stone in Arteta's Arsenal gauntlet.