Arsenal have completed a £30milion deal to bring Real Madrid star Martin Odegaard back to the club - but it's a deal which could be set to raise more questions than answers when it comes to solving Arsenal's creative conundrum.
Odegaard dazzled during a six-month loan spell at the Emirates last season, and boss Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu look to have finally struck an agreement to prise the Norwegian back to North London.
But now Odegaard's arrival in a £30m deal from Real Madrid looks set to directly impact Arteta's plans for Emile Smith Rowe.
The Croydon-born star's emergence at the Emirates last season was one of the few bright points in an otherwise bleak campaign for the Spaniard's side.
The 21-year-old dazzled in the number 10 role last season - but is now likely to be shunted out wide to accommodate Odegaard's arrival.
Arsenal backed Smith Rowe in a big way in the summer - offering the youngster a bumper new long-term contract and handing him the number 10 shirt.
But now, there are question marks over his long-term future in a role he was seemingly lined up for just weeks ago by Arteta.
Again, Smith Rowe was one of the few positives for Arsenal during their demoralising defeat to Premier League new boys Brentford last Friday night.
Gary Neville was among those left hugely impressed by the playmaker, lauding him as Arsenal's "shining light" despite their shock 2-0 defeat.
“There was talk of him going to Aston Villa at one point this summer. They can’t let him go. His energy, his quality, was absolutely fantastic,” Neville said on Sky following the game.
“That link up with Tierney down the left. He was a shining light for Arsenal who you talk about wanting the ball. He was one of the positives for Arsenal tonight.”
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Despite failing to get on the scoresheet, he came closest to dragging the Gunners level early in the second half with a rasping drive following his own neat turn.
The midfield maestro seemed to be the only star for Arsenal trying to be positive, with his total of 11 progressive carries showcasing his drive to take the game to the Bees.
The ace racked up four goals and seven assists in 32 appearances across all competitions last season - and hopes are high that he can develop further this year.
Arteta has made no secret of his admiration for the young midfielder - so much so that the Gunners turned down two big-money proposals from rivals Aston Villa in the summer for him before tying him down to fresh terms.
And there's no doubt that the Spaniard will want to devise a blueprint that will enable both him and Odegaard to thrive together. In his defence, there is already evidence that can be the case, too.
The pair gelled quickly after Odegaard's initial arrival back in January, despite Smith Rowe being nudged out into a wide playmaker role to allow Odegaard a central slot.
It was a switch that paid dividends - with both Smith Rowe and Odegaard shining in those roles together during the final few months of the campaign as Arsenal saw an upturn in form.
The pair striking up a healthy understanding so quickly will have been a significant factor in Arteta and Edu biding their time to swoop for the Norwegian despite holding an interest in alternative targets such as James Maddison.
But even so, Odegaard's arrival will still come as a blow to Smith Rowe himself - who talked up the prospect of starring in the coveted free role after penning his new deal earlier this summer.
“Everyone knows that No.10 is a big shirt and it is definitely a big position as well. I’m buzzing. I can’t wait to get on the pitch,” Smith Rowe said.
“It's really special. I can't explain the feeling when I found out. I've not really got the words to explain it right now! But yeah, I'm really happy."
It now seems as though he will have to be content with a consistent but supporting role in the Arsenal attack rather than starring as the Gunners featured attraction in the No.10 berth.
If Smith Rowe is left irked by the situation, then it will be another transfer headache that Arteta has effectively given himself with his pursuit of Odegaard.
The Gunners transfer strategy has come under scrutiny on a consistent basis since the Spaniard's arrival.
The Emirates hierarchy have already been criticised for their pursuit of Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in a £20m deal this summer just a year after sanctioning Emi Martinez's departure to Aston Villa for a similar fee.
Martinez has since gone on to star for Villa, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's top stoppers during the 2020/21 season - arguably outperforming the man who Arsenal elected to keep ahead of him in Bernd Leno.
With the Gunners having to sell to enable them to rebuild a struggling squad, every transfer decision that Arteta and Edu make has to be spot on.
With Odegaard back in London, the Spaniard now looks set to face a juggling act to keep his key creative players content during what is quickly becoming a massive season for him.
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