Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is piecing together his squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign - but there is currently one glaring omission.
The Gunners have landed Willian from Chelsea and look set to also add defender Gabriel Magalhaes to bolster their defensive options.
But there has so far been little movement in terms of finding a new central midfielder - and their current state of play suggests a transfer crisis could be imminent.
With Dani Ceballos heading back to Real Madrid and both Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil firmly out of Arteta’s plans, it has left Arsenal remarkably thin on the ground in midfield.
Whilst they have solid depth in all other areas of their squad, they could face a huge problem in the middle of the park if they are unable to get a deal for Thomas Partey, Houssem Aouar or any other targets over the line.
As things stand, Granit Xhaka is the obvious first name on the team sheet in midfield.
But, beyond Xhaka, Lucas Torreira is next in line with huge question marks over his future after an injury-plagued year.
Joe Willock and Emile Smith Rowe are then the next options, given Arteta has seemed unwilling to reintroduce Guendouzi and Ozil back into the first-team picture.
Willock struggled to make a major impact in his appearances last season whilst Smith Rowe is returning from a successful loan spell at Huddersfield with a point to prove.
Unless signings can be made, Arteta could find himself forced to lean on the two academy graduates more than he would wish and it is clear that the need to sign a new midfielder could soon become a crisis before the transfer window ends.
A hypothetical depth chart of the rest of Arsenal’s side shows they are relatively well-stacked in other areas, particularly in attack with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to stay and several talented youngsters coming through.
Who should be Arsenal's top midfield target? Have your say here
There is also depth defensively and at full-back, which could be boosted by the arrival of Magalhaes from Lille.
But midfield remains a huge concern which needs to be addressed by the Gunners.
Here's the current state of play in the Arsenal squad in each position.
Arsenal depth chart
Goalkeeper
1st string: Bernd Leno
2nd string: Emiliano Martinez
3rd string: Matt Macey
Right back
1st string: Hector Bellerin
2nd string: Cedric Soares
3rd string: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Centre back
1st string: William Saliba
2nd string: David Luiz
3rd string: Pablo Mari
4th string: Rob Holding
5th string: Shkodran Mustafi
6th string: Sokratis Papastathopoulos
7th string: Calum Chambers
Left back
1st string: Kieran Tierney
2nd string: Bukayo Saka
3rd string: Sead Kolasinac
Central midfield
1st string: Granit Xhaka
2nd string: Lucas Torreira
3rd string: Joe Willock
4th string: Emile Smith Rowe
5th string: Mesut Ozil
6th string: Matteo Guendouzi
Right wing
1st string: Willian
2nd string: Nicolas Pepe
3rd string: Reiss Nelson
Left wing
1st string: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
2nd string: Bukayo Saka
3rd string: Gabriel Martinelli
Striker
1st string: Alexandre Lacazette
2nd string: Eddie Nketiah
3rd string: Gabriel Martinelli
