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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne & Kaya Kaynak

Arsenal transfer window frustration, Bissouma 'obsession', Lokonga's new role plus Raphinha talk

Why is the Arsenal fanbase so obsessed with Bissouma?

Kaya said: "I think because he's a very good player, everyone can see he's a really good player. He plays really well for Brighton and I think Arsenal have had their issues in midfield and fans watch it and think 'I wouldn't mind seeing him in a red and white shirt every week'.

"But Arsenal don't really have the need in the squad for another more defensive-minded midfielder. I think they want a more offensive-minded central midfielder. That's why they are targeting (Youri) Tielemans right now, they have shown an interest in Bissouma in the past but it's just not come to fruition.

"I get why people are frustrated because obviously he's a really good player and he's going to a big rival, not just in terms of the North London Derby, but in terms for the top four as well. But we will see how it plays out in the midfield department."

READ MORE: Arsenal miss out on £13m transfer windfall as Lucas Torreira blames 'those acting in a bad way'

Nicolas Pepe's ideal next destination?

Kaya said: "Napoli seemed keen a few years ago, maybe Arsenal can try and maneuver that, I don't know. Pepe wants regular game time so to go to PSG where they have (Lionel) Messi, Neymar and (Kylian) Mbappe in a front three doesn't make much sense to me. He might back himself to make that, but he wouldn't be guaranteed first-team football if he was to go there so I think it would be a strange decision for him to head out there.

"Lille would potentially be an interesting one, Arsenal obviously still owe Lille money in terms of installments for the way the Pepe deal has been structured, so that's something to consider, maybe they can work out some sort of thing there.

"Italy, I guess that makes sense. The problem with the Italian sides is they don't tend to have too much money, so in terms of covering Nicolas Pepe's wages, I don't know if they would be able to do that and one of the big reasons Pepe struggled to settle over here was the language barrier.

"So would going from France to Italy where there's a whole new language and culture to learn, could that be a problem? I don't know. Maybe he will want to return to France as that has been his main issue, but it's something to keep an eye on. It does seem that French clubs don't have much money, Italian clubs don't have that much money so it's a tricky one."

Go all out for Nkunku or Osimhen, or sign five good players?

Kaya said: "Really good question. I do think Arsenal need to add depth in certain positions. I think of maybe the full-back position, maybe a defender, maybe a 'six' type player. I suppose Nkunku could fill that void on the right-wing. When it comes to attacking players I'm always sort of inclined to just go for the firepower and get those really good strikers in because I don't really think you can replicate that.

"A player like Nkunku or Osimhen are both lethal in front of goal so I think they would be good signings for Arsenal if they can get them done. The question is whether they can get them done is a big one! I think Nkunku has sort of indicated that he does want to stay at RB Leipzig for another season and Arsenal would have a lot of competition. I've seen stories that he's worth £100m right now, whether Arsenal can get that I don't know. It's a difficult one in the market."

Should Saka winning the Player of the Season award be alerting?

Kaya said: "Tricky, he's obviously not signed a contract extension yet. I think Arsenal have that as a priority to get done and it's something they really should try and get done this summer and he's got two years left.

"If I were him I would probably try and hold off a bit and just see what's out there in terms of the interest. It's interesting that Man City have obviously briefed their journalists that they're not interested in Saka this summer, they've already spent quite big on (Erling) Haaland so I don't know if they would be able to get him this summer, maybe if you're talking about next summer for a deal if Arsenal can't tie him down by then.

"Liverpool is a similar thing, they've just spent €100m on Darwin Nunez, I don't think they are going to come in for Saka right now. Those are kind of the the two teams you'd realistically think Saka would go to, I don't really think any team on the continent can afford him and I don't think he'd want to go there right now.

"When it comes to putting a lot of pressure on him I think there's a fair question in that, but I also think he's proved he can handle it. Maybe you want to spread out those minutes a bit more and have more suitable back-ups for him but he's going to play every single big game and that's kind of the way it is.

"He's Arsenal's best player so they're going to try and play him as much as possible, they're not going to not play him. Especially last season when basically every game from January onwards was really important with the way the top four race was going, Arsenal really had to prioritise playing him in every match and you would like to think Arsenal are going to be in a similar position next season where the back end of the season is going to be hugely important, so I think they are just going to have to play him as much as possible and hope he's physically OK, give him rest where they can in terms of the cup games and Europa League games, but I think he's going to be a hugely important player for Arsenal next season."

How do we intend on solving the Partey situation?

Kaya said: "The Mohamed Elneny contract extension is supposed to have been done in line with that. I know that's not what people want to hear especially on a day when Bissouma seems to be on his way to Tottenham. But he's someone who came in and did a decent job towards the end of last season.

"There's obviously Albert Sambi Lokonga and young players such as Charlie Patino who is in and around it, plenty of players who could just about cover. It's difficult because Thomas Partey is such an elite player, an elite talent, you sort of say 'go out and sign a replacement or a back-up for him' but there are not that many players out there who can replicate what he does.

"Obviously Arsenal won't want to be caught as short as they were towards the end of last season when Partey was ruled out, but any team without Thomas Partey in it is going to be a lot worse for that, so it's a very difficult one to deal with."

Tired of Arsenal's discussions instead of actions?

Kaya said: "When they get their business done, if it's good business I don't think anyone really cares. Takehiro Tomiyasu came in on deadline day last season and for me was the signing of the season, so as long as they get the deals done then that's the most important thing.

"I get why people are frustrated, but the transfer window has been open for four days, so it's still very early on in the window and it's open until September 1 so there's plenty of time to get business done. I'm not tired about Arsenal transfer chat yet, but I'm sure in a few month's time I'm sure we will be."

Is not giving Saka competition a good idea?

Kaya said: "It's a fair question, I'd say players like Raphinha can play on the left and through the middle if needs be so I don't think they'll be targeting just one specific position so there's that to consider. Gabriel Martinelli can play on the right-wing if needs be, there's plenty of options out there. Reiss Nelson is still at the club, I don't think Saka will have no competition but he's the established first-choice and until someone comes in and does better that has to be the case so a signing like Raphinha would come in knowing that he has to overcome that.

"It would be a tricky task but most professional footballers have to back their talent and coming to a club like Arsenal you can't expect to just be guaranteed a first-team place as competition for places is just part of the deal."

Do you understand the criticism for Lokonga?

Kaya said: "I'm a really big fan, I think he's a good player. I think Arsenal fans have kind of slept on him recently and they've forgotten what he did in the first half of the season. I think he's someone who is going to really benefit from those Europa League games next season as he will be getting regular game time, he'll be getting the Carabao Cup games, fingers crossed Arsenal have a long run in the FA Cup and he'll be getting those games too.

"If you look across world football there are not too many 21/22 year-olds who are given sort of the keys to be a number six which is a really difficult position in one of the biggest teams in European football and Sambi was given that, he was given that trust, that's a lot to put on a player.

"I personally think he'd be better suited playing as an 'eight' going forward next season just to give him a bit more experience in the midfield and a bit less sort of high stakes position and I think it just makes sense to play him where you can exhibit his box-to-box abilities a bit more and that's obviously where he played against Everton in the final game of the season when he came on as a sub.

"That's something to keep an eye on, I think he makes a lot better left eight than he does a six for now. That's not to say he never will become a six, but I think for now keep him as an eight, protect him a little bit, allow him to learn in lower stakes games, and ideally don't throw him into the most difficult atmospheres imaginable at pressure points of the season and I'm sure in an ideal world Mikel Arteta wouldn't have done that.

"His hands were forced and Sambi came in and I think he was criticised for not being Thomas Partey but as we've already established Thomas Partey was probably the best number six in European football for that period between January and March when he was playing so well last season, so to replicate that is very difficult. I think Sambi can get there, he's just got to be given a bit of time."

What is the latest on Aaron Hickey?

Kaya said: "Arsenal haven't bid for him yet. They're interested in him but they haven't quite bid for him yet. I think Brentford (and Newcastle) have also shown an interest so that's something to keep an eye on. He's a very good player, so they have to get a move on if they want that deal over the line.

"It's tricky though because Arsenal have four full-backs and they also have two bright young full-back prospects in terms of Lino Sousa on the left and Brooke Norton-Cuffy on the right so they don't want to damage that balance. Obviously, if Cedric (Soares) or Nuno Tavares were to leave then maybe you start to look at Hickey and you start bringing him in.

"But Cedric, I've been told doesn't want to leave and I don't think he's been given any indication that Arsenal want to sell him. Nuno Tavares, as we've seen the reports linking him with a move to Italy, but I don't know if that will happen. If that happens then maybe they'll push ahead with the Aaron Hickey interest, but for now I think it's just the case of just holding off and seeing what happens on that one.

"It's annoying, I know Arsenal fans want deals to be done but it's sort of that weird stage of the season where you do need to just see how the cards fall on the table."

Credit: The Arsenal Way's PressBox YouTube show.

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