Two weeks to go: What Arsenal still need to do before the transfer window closes

Arsenal’s Community Shield performance was hugely encouraging. The intensity was there, the new additions showed promising signs and Mikel Arteta’s side looked much closer to being ready for the season than Manchester City.

But we should not get carried away.

City largely selected their best players rather than necessarily their fittest and most prepared team. They will improve considerably as those players build sharpness. Arsenal may be ahead of them today, but the objective is to remain ahead of them, and all competing parties, across an entire season.

With less than two weeks of the transfer window remaining, there is still plenty of work to do.

The first priority must be moving on the players who are very clearly surplus to requirements. Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira have no meaningful role in this squad. All three are entering the final year of their contracts and collectively account for an enormous amount in wages.

They must go. Arsenal may need to compromise on transfer fees, but there can be no justification for carrying all three beyond the deadline.

Those departures alone, though, will not create enough money to complete the squad. It has become increasingly clear that Arsenal need at least one substantial sale if they are going to fund both another defender and a transformative attacking signing.

Looking across the squad, the two most logical candidates are Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli.

It would be painful to lose Nwaneri, but his pathway has become incredibly congested. Arsenal now possess numerous established attacking and midfield options, leaving one of the club’s brightest academy graduates at risk of spending another season on the fringes.

It now appears Arsenal want to keep hold of Ethan in the long term. Crucially, any agreement to sell should include either a realistic buy-back clause or a significant sell-on percentage. That would allow Nwaneri to play regularly elsewhere while protecting Arsenal if he eventually fulfils his considerable potential.

Martinelli is a different case. He has already demonstrated his quality at Premier League level, but his development has stagnated. Arsenal have waited for him to rediscover the form of his outstanding 2022/23 campaign, yet the required consistency has not returned.

At £40million+ selling Martinelli would represent another sizeable accounting profit and create space for a genuine refresh on the left wing. Nwaneri and Martinelli cost Arsenal approximately £6million combined, meaning their departures could generate close to £80million and provide the flexibility needed to complete the window properly.

Ezri Konsa is set to join in a £50million deal and that was a position that absolutely needed strengthening.

William Saliba is facing a lengthy spell out, while the continuing uncertainty around Jurrien Timber’s fitness leaves Arsenal looking vulnerable. Cristhian Mosquera can cover both centre-back positions, so there should be enough minutes available even after Saliba returns.

The biggest remaining investment, however, should be made on the left wing.

Arsenal need more than another useful squad option. They need somebody capable of changing the level of the attack.

I would test Juventus’ resolve with a major bid for Kenan Yıldız. The Turkish international is an elite young talent who could provide creativity, unpredictability and long-term upside. If Juventus make it absolutely clear that a deal is impossible, Arsenal should immediately become involved in the race for Bradley Barcola.

Liverpool remain interested, but have yet to agree a fee. Arsenal should not stand aside and allow another outstanding attacking option to disappear without testing whether a deal can be done. Barcola possesses the pace and one-against-one threat this attack still lacks on a consistent basis.

Then there is the wildcard.

Viktor Gyökeres is a good striker, but I am not yet convinced he is a great one. If an unexpected market opportunity emerges involving Julián Álvarez or Victor Osimhen, Arsenal should be prepared to act.

That could mean trading Gyökeres to Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray or even Barcelona, should their reported interest become concrete. It would be a ruthless decision, but the best teams cannot become emotionally attached when a genuine upgrade becomes available.

Álvarez would bring technical quality, intelligence and positional flexibility. Osimhen would provide explosive pace and a devastating penalty-box presence. Either could transform Arsenal’s attacking ceiling.

That is the deal I would be prepared to take down to the final hours of the window. Everything else, however, can and should begin now.

In short: move Jesus, Nelson and Vieira out. Make firm decisions on Nwaneri and Martinelli. Add a right-sided defender. Then invest heavily in a new left winger.

The Community Shield showed that Arsenal already possess a very strong team. The next two weeks will determine whether they finish the window with a complete squad capable of fighting on all fronts.