Arsenal continue to be linked with a number of players and the club have been told they must sign two midfielders in particular
Arsenal’s midfield could look completely different come August 21 when the Gunners face Coventry City in the Premier League 2026/27 season opener.
Mikel Arteta is keen to add extra quality to the champions’ squad over the summer. football.london understands the club want to sign a full-back, midfielder and attacking player, with even more additions potentially on the cards depending on exits.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard started in the Champions League final defeat to PSG at the end of May, with Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino on the bench.
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It’s possible a number of midfielders are signed over the next eight weeks or so and Emmanuel Petit has backed his former side to sign two in particular. The ex-Gunners star believes Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi could be decent additions, but only if players are moved on first.
Guimaraes, valued at around £80million, has been tracked by Arsenal since he was at Lyon while Bouaddi, valued at around £60million, is admired by Andrea Berta, who has already spoken to the midfielder’s representatives about a possible move.
Petit, speaking to Jackpot City Casino, believes Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke should sanction a move for the talented duo. He said: “Bruno Guimaraes is a good player. If you add Ayyoub Bouaddi as well, there are some great options out there for Arsenal. But as I said, they need to clear some positions first, which means they have to sell some players.
“We will see at the end of the transfer market who comes after they sell players. If they buy more midfield players, they already have Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Odegaard. They probably need one or two more, but you have to keep everyone happy and manage the rotation of the team.
“When you need to add quality, you need to keep possession of the ball. We didn’t see that against Paris Saint-Germain. They have been the best team in the world for the last two seasons and have the greatest midfield players in terms of possession. But players like Guimaraes can hold the ball.”
Petit even went as far as to say captain Odegaard could be one of those who leave if he does not recover his best level. “The last two seasons have been difficult for Martin Odegaard. His first three seasons with Arsenal were brilliant, scoring many goals and giving many assists as the main playmaker,” Petit said.
“But since last season, he hasn’t been at his usual level in terms of stats and his impact. He was not the first choice anymore for Mikel Arteta. He has been injured for months, just like Bukayo Saka. Is it a coincidence that Saka was also struggling last season?
“The link between the two players disappeared. He needs to recover to his best level. I still like him, but if things don’t change, his days at Arsenal will be numbered.”
