Arsenal supporters will be feeling pretty blissful at this juncture. An FA Cup is locked securely in their trophy cabinet. and before we've even ventured into August, the Gunners have already strengthened their team with three astute signings.
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Alexis is already on board. Will more follow?
So not only will there be no panic about players who could be on the way out of the Emirates this summer, the Arsenal faithful won't have to endure the frantic hyperbole that accompanies the pursuit of major signings come the final knockings of the transfer window either.
Indeed, it's as if Arsene Wenger's ambition was reignited by the club's most recent Wembley triumph, and while the overwhelming majority of Gooners will be delighted with their team's forays into the transfer market during the window, the good news for them is that things might be set to get even better.
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Wenger looks set to conduct even more business in the transfer window.
Could there be another marquee signing or two to join up with Wenger and this burgeoning Arsenal squad yet? Here's the very latest on three players who could help spearhead a push for domestic and European glory at the Emirates stadium this season.
Calum Chambers on the cusp of Arsenal transfer
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Sky Sports have also reported a deal is close, as noted by their reporter Pete O’Rourke:
Chambers has only made 25 senior appearances for Saints but has caught the eye with his studious defending, impressive attacking bursts and a level of maturity that belies his years. Ted Knutson of StatsBomb provides us with a fascinating insight into the player's qualities here:
While the reported transfer fee of £16 million may appear somewhat substantial, Chambers is a player capable of nailing down a spot in this Arsenal team for the next few years.
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Chambers has already shown what he can do in the Premier League.
After all, he's already showcased his quality and shown that he's capable of standing up to the abrasive demands of the Premier League; under Wenger’s tutelage, he's going to improve extremely quickly.
James McNicholas of GunnerBlog thinks Chambers will be a fine acquisition:
Building for the future is vital for any side, and although so far in this window Wenger has brought in players who are ready to feature in the first team straight away, Arsenal supporters will have to be patient with Chambers and allow him to develop.
But with the Gunners set to embark on a trophy hunt in four separate competitions next season, the young defender should have plenty of opportunities to show what he can do and push for a place in the first team.
Gunners also want Morgan Schneiderlin
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Arsenal's pillaging of the south coast club might not stop there either, as reports have also surfaced suggesting that the Gunners have also made enquiries into the availability of Morgan Schneiderlin, as noted here by BBC's Ben Smith:
The combative midfielder has long been linked with a move to the Emirates, and according to
James Phillips of
Metro, Southampton have slapped a £27 million price tag on the player in an effort to put off potential buyers.
But stylistically, it's easy to see why Wenger would have isolated the Southampton midfielder as the player to add some steel to the base of his midfield. For Saints, the Frenchman has been unshakeably solid in his defence-shielding duties, as illustrated here by Who Scored:
While Arsenal have a host of intricate, ball-playing midfield players on their books, the squad is without a holding midfielder of genuine quality. Of course, Mathieu Flamini did a decent job in that position last season, but Schneiderlin would be a massive upgrade on his compatriot.
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Schneiderlin would add plenty of steel to the Arsenal midfield.
Again, the fee might seem somewhat steep, but this signing could potentially round off an almost perfect summer window for the Emirates outfit. The 24-year-old would add so much to this Arsenal engine room defensively, and his diligent influence would provide great insurance for when the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez make their forays forward.
Gino Peruzzi knows nothing of Emirates switch
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The 22-year-old
Catania defender impressed in Serie A despite his side being relegated, leading to links with Arsenal. Indeed, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t
Hamish Mackay of the Mail Online), the Gunners have already met with Peruzzi about a move.
But the player himself has claimed that he's heard nothing in regards to a move away from Italy, per
Sky Sports:
I heard about the interest of Arsenal, but the club has not told me anything.
I am calm and I think I will stay here. I am just thinking of Catania and I really want to bring the team back into Serie A.
Peruzzi shone at right-back for the majority of the campaign with Catania, but with a deal for Chambers apparently imminent—not to mention the fact that the Gunners already have Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson on board—it's difficult to see exactly where he'd fit into this Arsenal squad.
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With Chambers, Debuchy and Jenkinson, do Arsenal really need another full-back?
The Gunners look set to spend big money on Chambers, and he'll almost certainly feature prominently throughout the campaign but you suspect initially as back-up to Debuchy.
Peruzzi would be third choice at best when it comes to occupying the right-back slot, and as such, a move to the Emirates suddenly looks extremely unlikely
