Arsenal, Emiliano Buendia (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Arsenal could do a lot worse than look further down the table for potential purchases this summer. There are plenty of decent players who will be relegated or come close to it, and several of them could be useful additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad.
A year ago, I wrote about how Arsenal rarely ever buy players from other English teams, and why this should change. Look no further than this season’s champions: Andrew Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Xherdan Shaqiri were each signed from relegated clubs for a combined total of around £45m, and all have played important roles in Liverpool’s ascent to the top.
There is certainly plenty of value out there, it’s just about “outsmarting the market,” as Arsenal Head of Football Raul Sanllehi put it last summer. Relegation on top of the (somewhat undetermined) financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic could leave several clubs strapped for cash, potentially forcing some player sales at a discount.
While Arsenal has started to show signs of improvement under Arteta, the squad still has some glaring weaknesses, particularly in central midfield and defense. A new striker could become a priority as well if the club is unable to hold onto leading goalscorer Aubameyang, whose contract talks remain up in the air at this point.
Below is a list of five players who I believe can help fill some of the holes in Arsenal’s squad, and whose transfer fees shouldn’t be too inflated, especially if their team is facing relegation.
5. Todd Cantwell, Norwich City
Although Norwich has already been mathematically relegated, they have played some really exciting attacking football at times this season. One man who has been at the heart of much of it is 22-year old Cantwell, who is apparently an Arsenal fan; he celebrated a penalty shoot-out goal in the FA Cup by shushing Tottenham supporters.
The English midfielder/winger is also represented by Elite Project Group Limited, the same agency of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson, so perhaps Arsenal does have an in here. We have seriously lacked a goalscoring threat from midfield since Aaron Ramsey’s departure; Cantwell has scored against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Wolves, and Manchester United this season. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him back in the top flight in a few months.
wrote about how <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/category/arsenal-news/">Arsenal rarely ever buy players from other English teams, and why this should change. Look no further than this season’s champions: Andrew Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Xherdan Shaqiri were each signed from relegated clubs for a combined total of around £45m, and all have played important roles in Liverpool’s ascent to the top.</p>
<p>There is certainly plenty of value out there, it’s just about “outsmarting the market,” as Arsenal Head of Football Raul Sanllehi put it last summer. Relegation on top of the (somewhat undetermined) financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic could leave several clubs strapped for cash, potentially forcing some player sales at a discount.</p>
<p>While Arsenal has started to show signs of improvement under Arteta, the squad still has some glaring weaknesses, particularly in central midfield and defense. A new striker could become a priority as well if the club is unable to hold onto leading goalscorer Aubameyang, whose contract talks remain up in the air at this point.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="3 Things To Ponder From Leicester" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-vs-leicester-3-ponder/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/09/arsenal-vs-leicester-3-ponder/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 3 Things To Ponder From Leicester </a> </div>
</div>
<p>Below is a list of five players who I believe can help fill some of the holes in Arsenal’s squad, and whose transfer fees shouldn’t be too inflated, especially if their team is facing relegation.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Todd Cantwell, Norwich City</strong></h4>
<p>Although Norwich has already been mathematically relegated, they have played some really exciting attacking football at times this season. One man who has been at the heart of much of it is 22-year old Cantwell, who is apparently an Arsenal fan; he celebrated a penalty shoot-out goal in the FA Cup by shushing Tottenham supporters.</p>
<p>The English midfielder/winger is also represented by Elite Project Group Limited, the same agency of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, and Reiss Nelson, so perhaps Arsenal does have an in here. We have seriously lacked a goalscoring threat from midfield since Aaron Ramsey’s departure; Cantwell has scored against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Wolves, and Manchester United this season. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him back in the top flight in a few months.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Hidden gem </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_100392" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-100392" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1160486327.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Emi Buendia" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1160486327.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1160486327-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Emi Buendia (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h4><strong>4. Emiliano Buendia, Norwich City</strong></h4>
<p>Another extremely talented and versatile midfielder from the Canaries, Buendia can play on either wing or as a central attacking midfielder. The 23-year-old Argentine has seven assists to his name, and only Kevin De Bruyne and James Maddison have successfully completed more through balls this season. With the futures of Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos, and Mesut Ozil all uncertain beyond this season, Buendia could provide the creativity and killer-pass that Arsenal has sorely missed.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Always there </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103413" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103413" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1205668317.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Nathan Ake" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1205668317.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1205668317-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Nathan Ake (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h4><strong>3. Nathan Ake, Bournemouth</strong></h4>
<p>Bournemouth is another side who look set to be relegated, after five seasons in the top division. One of their most reliable performers has been former Chelsea center-back Ake. The 25-year old Dutchman is calm on the ball and commanding in the air; his performances have not gone unnoticed, however, as Manchester United are rumored to be interested in the defender.</p>
<p>Arteta seems to really value having a left-footed center-back, particularly when playing with a three-at-the-back formation, and I’m quite certain Ake could play this role better than Sead Kolasinac currently is. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea has some sort of buy-back clause or if United’s interest materializes. In any case, Arsenal should certainly have their eye on him.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. With a caveat </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103412" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103412" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1225972943.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Callum Wilson" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1225972943.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1225972943-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Callum Wilson (Photo by MATT DUNHAM/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h4><strong>2. Callum Wilson, Bournemouth</strong></h4>
<p>Danny Ings would be my preferred striker target, but something tells me his outrageous form will cause his transfer market value to really spike. Wilson is another English striker with a solid output. He has struggled a bit this season with only eight goals so far, but that can at least partly be attributed to Bournemouth’s awful form as a whole; he notched <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/134115/Show/Callum-Wilson">14 goals and 10 assists</a> only a season ago when the Cherries finished 14th.</p>
<p>Note: This is strictly if Arsenal is forced to sell Aubameyang and/or Lacazette this summer. While Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah are both hugely talented and exciting, I believe we will still need to add someone with a bit more experience to help compensate for the loss of Aubameyang in particular, and Wilson could be a very affordable option who can almost guarantee 10-15 goals.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Defense! </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103410" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103410" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1222154293.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Lewis Dunk" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1222154293.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1222154293-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Lewis Dunk (Photo by ANDREW BOYERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h4><strong>1. Lewis Dunk, Brighton</strong></h4>
<p>Eight points clear of Bournemouth, Brighton appears set to stay up, due in no small part to their 2-1 win over Arsenal last month. It was in that match that Dunk caught my eye (not for the first time), as he impressively marshaled a Seagulls’ defense that gave Arsenal few clear-cut chances. At the time of writing this, Brighton has conceded only five more goals than the Gunners this season, and the 28-year-old captain deserves a good degree of the credit.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_103399" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 Positives From Leicester" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/08/arsenal-3-huge-positives-leicester-disappointment/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/13/arsenal-5-underrated-epl-transfer/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/08/arsenal-3-huge-positives-leicester-disappointment/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 Positives From Leicester </a> </div>
</div>
<p>With the contracts of both Sokratis and Mustafi set to expire in a year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or both of them sold. Having made over 100 Premier League starts, Dunk could be a solid, experienced, and more reliable replacement than either of them.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
