Arsenal Round-Up: Leading race for Spanish forward, Battle for Croatian playmaker, French midfielder on the radar

Arsenal in pole position to sign 21-year-old La Liga forward

Arsenal are considering making a move for Alex Baena in the summer of 2023. The Spanish manager has reportedly identified U21 Spain international as the right profile of a wide attacker needed at Arsenal, who could rotate on either wing. The London giants have been one of the most in-form teams around the continent and in England.

Arsenal sit on top of the PL table after seven rounds of fixtures, winning six and losing once. Arsenal looks much stronger than last campaign, and much of the credit has been reserved for their summer business. Arsenal did bring in Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Zinchenko as their major additions but did miss out on a forward.

Current Barcelona forward Raphinha was their main target, but the Gunners failed to convince the Brazilian attacker to join them. Eventually, the London giants only signed a raw 19-year-old Marquinhos, who has been fantastic in his limited appearances for Arsenal.

The Spanish coach wanted another option before the window shut, but their priorities shifted towards midfield with the injuries to Partey and Elneny. However, the Gunners are set to get back on the trail of a new wide attacker, with Baena emerging on their list.

Arsenal were previously linked with Yeremy Pino from the Spanish side, but Alex has caught their attention with some terrific performances this campaign. The 21-year-old winger has scored six times in all tournaments this term, with his ability to play on either wing attracting Mikel Arteta’s attention.

Arsenal leading race to sign 24-year-old Croatia international

Arsenal scouted Lovro Majer when Croatia played Denmark. The Spanish coach has been keen on bringing in a new playmaker and could turn to the Stade Rennais attacker either in winter or next summer. The Gunners sit on top of the PL table after seven matchdays, winning six and losing once.

Much credit will have to be reserved for the Spanish coach and Edu for their formidable job in the summer transfer window. Arsenal made some important additions that tremendously improved their squad quality. The arrivals of Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Jesus, Matt Turner and Zinchenko have improved the Gunners’ ranks.

However, Mikel Arteta wanted to bring in a new midfielder before the close of the market, as Arsenal were linked with several footballers, including Tielemans and Douglas Luiz. While they never made any concrete attempts to add Tielemans, the Gunners did see three late bids rejected by Aston Villa for Douglas Luiz on deadline day.

The main idea was to bring someone to cover for Partey, who has struggled with injuries since arriving at Arsenal. However, in Mikel Arteta’s mind, the need for a midfielder who could combine well with the attacking side is much more important now than a holding footballer.

The London giants are looking at options to upgrade from Xhaka, who has entered his thirties. The Croatian attacker is the latest footballer on their radar, with the playmaker putting up fantastic displays in the previous campaign.

Arsenal renewed negotiations with No.8 Ligue 1 midfielder

Arsenal are still in the battle for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar. France international has been strongly linked with a move away from Les Gones many times in recent years. Aouar has just played one game so far for Ligue 1 club this campaign, and he’s almost guaranteed to leave the Groupama Stadium next summer.

The report also claims that the London club are still interested in signing Houssem. They will face competition from Newcastle United, Real Betis, and Juventus to secure his signature, but it’s growing increasingly unlikely that he will remain in Ligue 1 as it stands.

The 24-year-old midfielder’s deal at Lyon expires at the end of the campaign, so all interested sides will be able to add the player on a free transfer. His versatility could make him an attractive prospect to the Spanish manager. The Gunners sold Torriera to Galatasaray for £5m, on top of selling Guendouzi to Marseille on a permanent basis.

The French midfielder is primarily a playmaker, but has regularly played in a slightly deeper role, and would have no issues slotting into the Gunners’ two-man midfield. The Frenchman’s also played out wide at times, making him a useful squad option for the Gunners, especially due to the congested fixture list that comes with playing in the UEL.

Houssem Aouar graduated from Lyon’s academy in 2016, later gaining international recognition when he starred in 2019/20 UCL, helping his side knock out Juventus and Man City before losing to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.