Mikel Arteta’s 5 Arsenal deals that could be completed on transfer deadline day

Nobody wants to be in Mikel Arteta’s shoes right now after losing the first three games of the Premier League season — something no Arsenal manager has overseen since 1954.

The Gunners have endured a difficult start to the campaign, just like they did in 2020-21. After back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Chelsea, they were thumped 5-0 by Manchester City.

Perhaps the only reason why the Spaniard is still fighting for his job and not unemployed is because very few of his signings have been available to use.

Martin Odegaard was the only one of five summer arrivals to play against Man City, with Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares all left out.

There have been absences too which have forced Arteta to change his shape. But ultimately, those allowances will not last long if the results do not improve.

The 39-year-old has had £140m to spend this summer, the most by any Premier League club, yet there have been no notable improvements.

If he does manage to make further additions to his squad before the deadline, he may need to sell first — and this time, he will be hoping to make some drastic improvements.

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Which player do you think Mikel Arteta should sign before the transfer deadline? Let us know in the comments section below.

Kieran Trippier

Arsenal's pursuit of Kieran Trippier has been boosted by reports that Atletico Madrid are looking to sign his replacement before the transfer deadline.

The LaLiga outfit are set to make an offer to Turkey international Zeki Celik after the player’s representative confirmed they had received a contract offer.

“It is true that Atletico are interested in Zeki Celik, there is the proposal. We are evaluating it", he told Haber Global via Transfrmarketweb.

The England international is keen to return to the Premier League after leaving Tottenham in 2019 but his proposed move to Manchester United failed to materialise this summer.

But Celik joining the Spanish giants could mean that Trippier would likely be allowed to head back to the UK, providing Arsenal can stump the cash to meet his £20m asking price.

Marco Asensio

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Clearly, despite the signing of Martin Odegaard and renewal of Emile Smith Rowe’s contract, Arteta is looking for more chances to be created in this Arsenal side.

And according to The Sun, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Marco Asensio could be the subject of a last-ditch bid from the Gunners to lure him to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old has done well to recover from a serious knee injury over the past two years and is back in the fold at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But with Eden Hazard, Vinicius Jr and Gareth Bale all regular starters, and the return of Isco to the team, Asensio is only likely to play a bit-part role under Carlo Ancelotti.

The two clubs have a good relationship after striking a deal for Odegaard this summer in addition to the loan move they agreed for Dani Ceballos previously.

And if Asensio is to gain some regular first-team experience elsewhere to build up his fitness, Arsenal will be one of the clubs queueing to clinch his signature.

OUT

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

It appears inevitable that the versatile defender will be leaving the club before the August 31 deadline after making his feelings clear on social media.

The right-back is yet to start a league game this season under Arteta and faces an uncertain future despite returning from his loan spell at West Brom over the summer.

Maitland-Niles has been linked with a loan move to Everton and the 24-year-old, an England international, made a bizarre plea with the club to allow him to depart.

An Instagram story appeared on his official page which read: ”All I wanna (sic) do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm gonna play @Arsenal”.

That could be all the encouragement Toffees boss Rafa Benitez needs to make the deal happen before the transfer window closes.

Reiss Nelson

No senior first-team player has featured for fewer minutes than Reiss Nelson during Arteta’s tenure, so it is not surprising that the winger could head for the exit door.

The England Under-21 international struggled for game time with the Gunners last season, making just two Premier League appearances, both of which were from the bench.

Feyenoord had registered their interest in the 21-year-old before deciding to line up a deal for Manchester United starlet Amad Diallo instead.

However, the Ivorian picked up a muscle injury which scuppered his chances of leaving and now the Eredivisie outfit have returned to enter talks with Arsenal.

According to football.london, that Nelson will be joining the Dutch side on a season-long loan and there may well be an option for a permanent move included should be impress at De Kuip.

Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal are well-stocked in the attacking department for the forseeable future after locking down Folarin Balogun to a new contract earlier this year.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette look set to remain the first-choice pairing under Arteta for the coming months, even if Lacazette's contract situation means his future is in doubt.

And that is why Arteta and sporting director Edu could be convinced to allow Nketiah, 21, to leave if the price is right after entering the final year of his contract.

The England Under-21 international has shown his promise with six goals in all competitions last season, despite mainly appearing from the bench.

Crystal Palace are one of the clubs interested in signing the striker, according to Sky Sports, with interest from an unnamed Bundesliga club.

However, his current injury problem which is set to keep him out until September could complicate any potential before the deadline.

  • Premier League
  • Arsenal FC
  • Mikel Arteta
  • Transfer news

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