Here is the Arsenal digest on Sunday, September 6.
State of play for rest of transfer window
We’re now just one month away from the summer transfer window shutting, and for Arsenal, there are a big few weeks ahead.
As James Benge writes, the Gunners will still be looking to offload some of their fringe players, perhaps ones that are on a hefty salary.
The likes of Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar are still being linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
If Arsenal managed to sign one more “quality midfielder”, then Benge reckons Mikel Arteta would have gotten everything he wanted from the summer window.
The five exciting ways Arsenal could line up if transfers happen
As just mentioned, Arsenal are keen to bring Partey and Aouar to the club before the transfer window shuts in early October.
As Tom Victor writes , there are five exciting ways that the Gunners could line up should they complete the signings of the midfield duo.
Granit Xhaka and Partey in a double-pivot, a three of Xhaka, Partey and Aouar, Xhaka in a more advanced role in front of Partey and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Partey as a lone deep-lying midfielder, or a compact midfield trio with Aouar in a free role.
Read more about the different ways Arteta could operate his midfield next season.
Observations from Gunners’ training match
Arsenal were in action on Saturday afternoon, as they faced Aston Villa in a training match ahead of the new season that starts next weekend.
The Gunners are yet to release any details from the match, but there have been some leaks online.
According to PA Sports’ Mark Mann-Bryans , Arteta’s side lost 3-2 to Dean Smith’s men, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice at the Emirates.
Willian played for the first time in an Arsenal shirt - although it won’t be his official debut - whilst Mesut Ozil also featured.
