🚨🚨AFC TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: Merino, Gyokeres, Partey – Nine transfer decisions Arsenal will make this week Before Deadline day 😳 

Arsenal have only made two permanent signings so far but Mikel Arteta has a busy week of transfer decisions ahead of
Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon has already scored six goals in four games this term, after last season’s tally of 43 in

Arsenal have less than five days to conclude their summer transfer business with a number of decisions still to make.

Mikel Arteta, who earlier this summer bemoaned Premier League spending rules for slowing down negotiations, has only made two permanent signings so far. David Raya followed last season’s loan spell with a permanent move, while Riccardo Calafiori is the only new face.

The Gunners are expected to challenge for the title once again with greater expectation of silverware success this season, having not lifted a major trophy since 2020, during Arteta’s first half-season in charge.

However, fans are eager for their club to bolster their ranks ahead of Friday night’s transfer deadline, while there are also sales to consider. In all, Arteta could have as many as nine decisions to make in the coming days.

Mikel Merino
Perhaps the most obvious one is trying to tie up a deal for Mikel Merino. The midfielder has long been linked with the Spaniard, and to not get a deal over the line after all this time would incur anger and angst.

Arsenal are in need of another midfielder for a long-haul season that now includes extra Champions League games. Merino has tasted Premier League football before at Newcastle United, so he will know what to expect from domestic competition and is thereby less of a risk than other overseas options.

A striker
Will Arsenal land an attacker after all? If not, Arteta will argue that they coped fine without one last year, having pumped up Gabriel Jesus over the summer. If so, the question is who to get and for how much.

Victor Osimhen would almost certainly cost too much, while the Gunners at best seem reserved about transfer-linked Ivan Toney. Sporting Lisbon goal machine Gyokeres should be a consideration but won’t be cheap. At present, it looks less likely that a new number nine will be captured, but a lot can happen in the final week of a window.

Ramsdale and a replacement
Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal looks on prior to the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11,

Another move that might have slim odds is the exit of Aaron Ramsdale. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia has been linked and does have a release clause of £25m, so it’s not a dead cert that Ramsdale will stay, but time is running out.

Karl Hein has been loaned out, while 18-year-old Tommy Setford, who recently arrived from Ajax, has seemingly not been included in first-team plans, leaving Arteta without a usual third choice. It’s a rather strange situation that looks ominous for England international Ramsdale.

Nelson and Nketiah
With one academy product in Emile Smith Rowe gone, two more could yet depart as Arsenal look to stay above water within spending rules. Eddie Nketiah looks bound for Crystal Palace, albeit after his collapsed move to Nottingham Forest. Arteta will not be holding his breath until the deal is completed.

Reiss Nelson has been linked with a handful of Premier League clubs, including Leicester, but is yet to be moved on. Time is ticking.

Kiwior, Zinchenko and Tierney
Only one of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko would likely be moved on given Arsenal would be caught short at left-back if both departed. Zinchenko’s 69-minute stint in the opening 2-0 win over Wolves and Kiwior’s lack of game time so far seems to indicate who is more likely to leave.

Jurrien Timber is currently the preferred option at left-back and there is little need for three options in the role while centre-half opportunities are almost non-existent for Kiwior after Calafiori’s arrival. Kieran Tierney’s injury is not ideal for Arsenal’s obvious desire to offload.

Thomas Partey
He might have scored against Aston Villa, but Thomas Partey could be the fall guy when it comes to balancing the books. Arteta admitted that his persistent absences last season were far from helpful, and some fans have indicated they would not be overly sorry to see him leave.

His exit is not concrete, and his staying would make for a tasty midfield roster in a long season. But there is always the risk of playing-time unrest, and with Jorginho and Fabio Vieira also battling for minutes, there is a danger of being too overcrowded.

The Saudi Pro League remains open beyond Friday’s European deadline, and so there is always the chance for Arsenal to sell after their own window closes should Pro League clubs wish to enquire about their talents. However, for those who would need replacing, like Ramsdale, any late Saudi charge would ultimately be futile.