A new report from The Guardian reveals the delicate dynamics at Arsenal in the player transfer market, specifically regarding the futures of five players - Zinchenko, Kivior, Smith Rowe, Nelsen and Nketiah. De Zerbi has reportedly expressed a keen interest in all five players, all of whom are on Arsenal's touring roster, but their future destination is still up in the air.
However, Arsenal manager Arteta seems to be quite cautious about the departure of these five players. He understands the importance of depth in the squad, especially having players who can play multiple roles and bring more variety and options to the team in a game. Therefore, Arteta is unlikely to let these five players go easily, even if they face temptations from other clubs.
In addition, the report also mentions the performances of Havertz and Rice in the squad. Havertz was expected to replace Zaka in midfield, but last season he excelled up front and was directly involved in 15 goals. Rice, on the other hand, has shown his strength in a more forward position with Jorginho or Thomas Partey at the back. These changes show that Arsenal's tactical system is evolving and adapting to suit the characteristics and strengths of different players.
Meanwhile, Merino's transfer rumors continue to fester. The Real Sociedad midfielder's transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £30million, which is a lot of money for Arsenal to spend. But Arteta says that after the ups and downs of the last few years, he is now more focused on what the team can control rather than being swayed by the various rumors in the transfer market.
