Arsenal had a hugely frustrating transfer window, but at least they were able to free up some space on the wage bill.
The Premier League club let go of SIX players in January which culminated in Pierre-Emerick Aibameyang’s free transfer to Barcelona.
Arsenal fans are rightly worried by their paper thin squad in light of their business last month.
They have just two recognised strikers in Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette, while first choice central defenders Gabriel and Ben White have just Rob Holding waiting in the wings if one of them are injured.
Any injuries could derail Arsenal’s campaign and manager Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be worried as that is a great possibility.
Nevertheless, all of their outgoings were supposedly part of the board’s masterplan as reports suggest the club will spend big in the summer.
According to The Sun, billionaire owner Stan Kroenke is willing to hand the Spaniard the tools to land his three top targets and that could be a spend of £180m.
But who are the targets and how could they look? talkSPORT.com has identified the players and how they could fit in the XI, below…
Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad)
The Swede, who was a January target for the Gunners, was a huge hit for Real Sociedad last year, scoring 17 goals in 34 LaLiga appearances.
The 22-year-old has a release clause which allows him to leave for £77m and Arsenal may reignite their interest in the player in the summer.
Isak also impressed for Sweden at Euro 2020, though he did not find the scoresheet in four appearances.
This season, his form has been less prolific, with four goals in 18 appearances so far.
Nevertheless, he still attracts admiring glances from a number of clubs, with Barcelona also said to be keen on the player.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
The Toffees striker has been a hit at Goodison Park since breaking into the first-team but will want to be challenging in the top-half of the table and he could do this with the Gunners.
A move to the north Londoners would also increase his chances of earning a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for this year’s World Cup.
And Arsenal do not appear to be discouraged by the £60million fee being mooted for the 24-year-old, who has 56 goals in 177 appearances for Everton.
Ruben Neves (Wolves)
The Gunners expressed an interest in the Wolves midfielder in January but no deal ever looked to close to materialising.
Neves still has two years remaining on his contract at Wolves, and talkSPORT understand the club would want at least £50million to let their star man go.
The 24-year-old has been with the Midlands outfit since 2016 and is highly regarded by the club’s supporters.
He has spoken about his desire to play Champions League football so any potential deal for the player would hinge if the Gunners can make it into the top European tournament.
So how could they line-up?
Aaron Ramsdale will keep his place in goal.
The Gunners’ no.1 has been a star performer for the club since his move from Sheffield United in the summer.
The back four will also be the same, with Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu occupying the flanks and Gabriel and Ben White partnering as the centre-backs in the middle.
Neves will join Partey in what will likely form a rock solid midfield.
Unfortunately, one of Arsenal’s attackers will have to be sacrificed to accommodate both Isak and Calvert-Lewin and Martin Odegaard could drop out.
The Norway international would make way so Arteta can use two up front, where they’d be expected to link-up the play.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe would therefore fill in on the flanks, with Gabriel Martinelli an option off the bench.
