Arsenal transfer targets continued success may hand Mikel Arteta huge problem

In pictures: Arsenal v Burnley

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Arsenal failed to make any significant signings in the January transfer window. The Gunners were keen to add to their forward ranks but were also linked with stars playing in other positions, and they will be gutted not to secure the signature of one in particular.

With Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette out of contract at the end of the season, Mikel Arteta understandably prioritised signing another striker last month but missed out on top target Dusan Vlahovic, who joined Juventus from Fiorentina instead.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak were also backup targets but a deal didn’t materialise for either of the pair.

The Gunners were also closely linked with young defender Djed Spence, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Middlesbrough.

The 21-year-old impressed again on Sunday night during Forest’s shock 4-1 victory over Leicester City in a performance that really caught the eye.

JUST IN: Roy Keane raises fresh concerns over Mo Salah’s Liverpool future

Given Arsenal’s interest in the defender previously, it would be no surprise for the North London outfit to try to sign Spence again in the summer, but it will cause Arteta to have a serious rethink tactically.

Spence has flourished at Forest in the right wing-back role, giving him licence to roam up and down the wing and prove a real threat in the final third.

Therefore, if signed, Arteta may be forced to veer away from his tried and tested 4-2-3-1 in order to get the very best out of his crop of players – and it could see his team improve further.

Playing Spence in right-back would restrict just how good the Englishman can be and also put a cap on his best assets, like running in behind and causing overloads out wide.

DON’T MISS
Glenn Hoddle slams Dele Alli outfit for Everton unveiling – ‘Dragged off the street’
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz had ‘pre-agreement’ with Cardiff over transfer that never happened
Adama Traore shows Tottenham what they’re missing with mesmerising Barcelona debut

But a back three may not only suit the potential acquisition.

Summer signing Ben White flourished in a back three at Brighton before moving to the Emirates Stadium, and Takehiro Tomiyasu has also played as a right-sided centre-back in the Bundesliga.

Kieran Tierney could also thrive as a left wing-back, and Nuno Tavares has also been noticeably better going forward than defensively so could suit the role too.

Of course, this would leave Arteta a man short in attack and would present him with a conundrum to solve in the final third, so failing to sign a forward in January may have been a blessing in disguise.

Spence scored the fourth against Leicester on Sunday, playing a neat one-two on the edge of the box before firing a fierce strike past Danny Ward.

Speaking about Forest’s victory on ITV, Alan Shearer said: “It was no surprise no shock that they won with a performance like this. I fancied Forest before the game because of what they did to Arsenal.

“They dismantled them down that right side and they did the exact same to Leicester today the performance of Spence and Johnson two outstanding players and performers.”

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal are able to sign Spence at the end of the season, though Tottenham and Brentford have also been linked with the defender and neither side would have to change their system to fit him in.

Source: Read Full Article