Arsenal are expected to make plenty of signings this summer and aren’t seemingly afraid to splash the cash, with the likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Mason Mount and James Maddison all among those linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
But while big money signings will be important for raising the ceiling of Mikel Arteta’s squad, their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017 means that they will need a squad capable of competing on all fronts, rather than the 12 or 13 players that Arteta currently relies on.
That could prove eyewateringly expensive, and so we’ve identified five players that could help the Gunners improve their squad for absolutely nothing.
Here are the five free agents that Arsenal should consider this summer.
📰 Table Of Contents
Marco Asensio
Long-linked with Arsenal, Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio will be a free agent this summer after he couldn’t agree on a new deal with Real Madrid.
Still just 27-years-old, the Spaniard is versatile but operates best as a left-footed right winger. He would bring plenty of winning experience to the Arsenal dressing room, which will likely be losing the presence of Granit Xhaka in that area, while he could also provide competent cover for Bukayo Saka, who is on course to rack up over 5000 minutes across all competitions this season.
🚨⚪️ Marco Asensio is on the verge of leaving Real Madrid as free agent. No agreement over new deal.
Asensio has turned down the last new deal bid, as revealed by @hugocerezo @relevo.
Final decision on future, soon.
Mendes, on it — Premier League clubs and PSG are informed. pic.twitter.com/VatDEV9QIS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 26, 2023
Youri Tielemans
At one point, Arsenal were reportedly ready to pay £25m for Youri Tielemans, so why wouldn’t they want to land him on a free?
Out of contract this summer, the Belgian has had a tough season with Leicester City but is still a valuable option in the centre of the pitch, and would help combat what is set to be an exodus in the Arsenal engine room.
As already mentioned, Xhaka could be on his way out, while there are question marks over Albert Sambi Lokonga and Emile Smith Rowe. With the club already weak in midfield before any departures, and more set to leave than arrive, an extra body with Premier League experience wouldn’t go amiss.
Youri Tielemans and Declan Rice both among the most similar players to Partey this season… pic.twitter.com/IlEw22Z3d2
— Jonny Whitmore (@JonnyWhitmore14) May 19, 2023
Angel di Maria
Another low-cost option to provide cover for the right-wing, Di Maria’s best years from an athletic point of view may be behind him but he remains supremely technically gifted.
Set to leave Juventus for nothing this summer, the World Cup winner could well be on Arsenal’s shortlist for the problem position, able to provide high quality cover even at 35-years-old, though he may be docked points for his links with Manchester United and his age possibly counting against him when it comes to Arsenal’s energetic press.
Angel Di Maria = A big-game player 💪#FIFAWorldCup | @AFASeleccionEN pic.twitter.com/j3IB7rNtQt
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 20, 2023
Raphael Guerreiro
Oleksandr Zinchenko has rightly gained plenty of plaudits for his role in Arsenal’s season, but it seems clear that Kieran Tierney will be on his way out this summer, with the Scot not fitting Mikel Arteta’s tactical plan.
Few can, but one man who has plenty of experience doing so is 29-year-old Guerreiro, with the current Borussia Dortmund man having played both at left-back and in central midfield this season.
As an inverted fullback to provide an alternative to the Ukrainian, who could also play in midfield if required, Guerreiro would Arteta’s desire for versatility, and could prove a very shrewd addition.
Most league assists in Europe’s top five divisions since the end of the World Cup:
◉ 10 – Raphaël Guerreiro
◉ 10 – Riyad Mahrez
◉ 10 – Antoine Griezmann
◎ 8 – Leandro Trossard
◎ 8 – Trent Alexander-Arnold
◎ 8 – Michael Olise
◎ 8 – Mohamed Salah— Squawka (@Squawka) May 22, 2023
Ilkay Gundogan
Arsenal have already begun exploring this deal as Gundogan’s contract at Manchester City expires, but were they able to pull it off they would be making a massive statement.
Manchester City’s captain in recent weeks, the decorated German would offer some exceptional quality in the middle of Arsenal’s midfield as well as providing an excellent goal threat and a leader in the dressing room that the club would be losing in Xhaka.
Despite now being 32-years-old, having worked with Arteta previously he will know the Spaniard’s system to a tee, and would be able to slot straight in. In many ways, it is a no-brainer.
𝑺𝑶𝑴𝑬𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳 from Ilkay Gundogan. 💫pic.twitter.com/4s4qMxJhil
— City Report (@cityreport_) May 24, 2023
