MIKEL ARTETA insisted that Arsenal will still be able to attract high-quality players despite the club being on the verge of losing European football.
The Gunners are currently in ninth place with only three games to play and could lose more ground to their rivals if they can’t beat Liverpool tonight.
2
Winning the FA Cup appears to be Arsenal’s best bet to seal their passage to the Europa League, but with North Londoners facing Manchester City in the semifinals, Arteta’s men will go into the game like huge underdogs.
ARSENAL NEWS LIVE: Follow the latest Gunners news
But the Spaniard said he wasn’t worried about his chances of attracting his goals, as he said Arsenal will always be an attractive destination.
Asked if the club will still be able to land key players without European football, Arteta said, “Yes.
“Because we have an incredible story, an incredible structure, in a beautiful city and a game style that attracts players.
“I tell you now because when I’m closer to the market now when I talk to people, many players want to play for Arsenal.”
Here SunSport examines five possible players that Arsenal could still sign at the end of the season.
THOMAS PARTEY
The defensive midfielder of Atletico Madrid has been strongly connected with a passage to the Emirates while stopping on the signing of a new agreement to the Wanda Metropolitano.
It has been reported that the Ghanaian international would like to join Arsenal and want the move to be completed quickly, even if Atletico doesn’t want to let it go.
Partey, 27, is available for £ 45 million due to a clause in his contract, leading Arsenal to potentially have to sell players to win him over.
DAYOT UPAMECANO
The Leipzig RB ace is considered to be priority no. 1 of the central defender of Arteta, with the player who is unlikely to sign a new agreement in the Bundesliga club.
Arsenal is said to be in pole position to sign the young international Frenchman, with the Italian media reporting to AC Milan that the player was to join the Gunners.
2
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
With Mesut Ozil facing an uncertain future in the club that has been frozen to the side, Arsenal will seek to bring in a new director.
And they could turn to former Liverpool coach Coutinho, as reports suggest that Barcelona have offered Arsenal the chance to sign him.
Coutinho could take the opportunity to return to the Premier League as he tries to rediscover the form that saw him gain a move to the Camp Nou.
SAMUEL UMTITI
With limited funds that should be available for Arteta, Arsenal could be forced into the loan market.
Coutinho’s teammate, Umtiti, has been considered in excess of the requirements and will be allowed to leave on loan in order to conclude a permanent agreement in 2021.
Arteta knows she must bring the defenders and could see the winner of the French World Cup sign as a win-win situation.
ODSONNE EDOUARD
If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were to leave the club in the summer, a new striker will surely be a priority for Arteta.
Celtic striker Edouard could be the man in charge of leading the line, with the French star believed to be available for £ 25 million.
The 22-year-old finished the 2019/20 campaign with 27 goals and 19 assists in 45 games, proving to be a supplier and a lethal shooter.
