Arsenal are set to sanction a number of marquee transfers to help Mikel Arteta, but it is their potential impact on players already at the club that could be the difference.
Sporting director Andrea Berta will have already identified several targets in certain positions but now faces decisions on exactly which players they wish to formally pursue. Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad has already been revealed as one of those with an agreement in principle reached.
football.london understands that Arsenal have been confident for some time they would be able to get the Zubimendi would deal done. The Spaniard has anchored Sociedad's midfield for nearly five years and has turned down moves to Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Having played with him at international level, David Raya will know the 26-year-old is an expert in recovering possession, cutting lanes and making intelligent passes. All of those strengths will surely make him a dream partner for Declan Rice.
The England international has shown on several occasions this season that, as an elite ball-carrier, he is much better further forward. He is also capable of delivering in front of goal with his opener against Bournemouth last weekend, taking him up to 18 direct goal contributions for the season.
With Arsenal now just needing to pay Zubimendi's £50 million (€60m) release clause, focus can now seemingly switch onto other targets, but that may already be the case.
Having worked on other deals under the expectation Zubimendi would be joining, the Gunners know they want a new goalkeeper, forward and defender, as football.london understands, alongside hope a wide forward can also be acquired.
Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak are quite clearly the top two striker options while Nico Williams is Arteta's favoured addition out wide. Bryan Mbeumo, Kingsley Coman, Johan Bakayoko and Jamie Gittens are alternatives that have also been loosely mentioned in conversations about Arsenal.
In defence, Jorrel Hato of Ajax could be the perfect signing for several reasons. His ability to play at left-back and centre-back already makes him a dream Arteta player and what he might be able to do for Myles Lewis-Skelly is game-changing.
The Hale End graduate has been exceptional at left-back this season but it is quite clear, especially when he gets on the ball, his future in this Arsenal team will be in midfield.
He has moved centrally on several occasions and could therefore easily start in midfield with Hato replacing him on the left.
But, having the Dutchman available would also allow for Arteta to experiment with one possible option seeing Lewis-Skelly remain at full-back and have Hato next to him to allow the teenager to invert while Jurrien Timber, for example, moves from right-back into a back three when Arsenal have the ball.
Despite agreeing a new contract recently, Ajax have set Hato's asking price at £40million but the Gunners' strong relationship with the Dutch giants could potentially see them negotiate a lower fee.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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