There was an awful lot to like about Arsenal’s performance against Manchester City.
Three goals, a clean sheet and, for long periods, complete control of a side that remains the obvious benchmark. The new arrivals looked comfortable, the press had real aggression and Arsenal appeared much further along in their preparations than City.
It was exactly what you would want to see immediately before the serious business begins.
It was also only the Community Shield.
City will be better than this. Much better. Several of their biggest names looked like players still working their way towards full fitness, and anyone expecting Arsenal to stroll away from them on the evidence of one afternoon in Cardiff is getting rather ahead of themselves.
The more important question is whether Arsenal can use the final days of the transfer window to turn an excellent first XI into a squad capable of surviving nine months of injuries, suspensions and fixture congestion.
At the moment, I don’t think they are quite there.
Arsenal need to stop carrying passengers
The easiest decisions concern Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira.
None looks likely to play regularly. All three are approaching the final year of their contracts and Arsenal gain very little by keeping expensive players around simply because nobody has yet offered precisely the fee they would like.
Sometimes you take the best deal available and move on.
This is one of those occasions.
Clear the wages, create some squad space and give the players themselves the opportunity to go somewhere they might actually play.
The more uncomfortable decisions come after that.
Somebody valuable probably has to leave
Arsenal have spent heavily and still need reinforcements.
You don’t finance that simply by selling players the manager doesn’t want. The market knows when you are trying to offload your unwanted players and generally behaves accordingly.
If Arsenal want serious money, they may have to sell somebody other clubs genuinely want.
That brings us to Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Martinelli.
I can already hear the objections to the first name.
Nwaneri is Hale End, hugely talented and precisely the sort of footballer supporters want to see make it at Arsenal. Ideally, he stays for the next decade.
But where are the minutes coming from this season?
Arsenal’s attacking and midfield departments are increasingly crowded. Keeping a brilliant young footballer around to play ten minutes here and a cup game there doesn’t necessarily constitute good development.
If there is a club prepared to pay a substantial fee and offer him regular football, Arsenal should at least listen.
But only on their terms.
A buy-back option would be ideal. Failing that, insist upon a sizeable percentage of any future transfer. Arsenal should never put themselves in a position where Nwaneri becomes a £100million player somewhere else and all they have to show for it is the original cheque.
Martinelli might be the sale that unlocks the window
With Martinelli, there is less sentiment involved.
He has been a very good player for Arsenal and his 2022/23 season demonstrated exactly what he can do.
But how long do we keep referring back to 2022/23?
The explosive Martinelli who terrified full-backs and looked capable of becoming one of Europe’s best wide forwards has appeared too infrequently since.
Perhaps he rediscovers that level.
Perhaps somebody else is willing to pay Arsenal £40million or more to find out.
At that price, I would be tempted.
Between Martinelli and Nwaneri, Arsenal could potentially raise somewhere in the region of £80million from players who originally cost the club almost nothing.
Suddenly, the final week of the window looks very different.
Defensive reinforcement isn’t optional
The impending arrival of Ezri Konsa for around £50million might not be the glamorous deal supporters spend all summer dreaming about, but it could be one of Arsenal’s most important.
Saliba’s injury changes everything.
Add the continuing questions over Timber’s fitness and Arsenal cannot afford to enter a season competing on four fronts hoping everybody else stays healthy.
Konsa gives Arteta experience, reliability and versatility, while Mosquera can operate on either side of central defence.
Once Saliba returns, Arsenal might suddenly look overloaded.
Good.
Teams trying to win the Premier League and Champions League are supposed to look overloaded.
Now go and buy someone frightening
Defence is necessity.
Left wing is where Arsenal should allow themselves some ambition.
Not another rotation player. Not somebody who can “do a job” in three positions. Arsenal have plenty of those.
I want somebody opposition supporters don’t want to see on the teamsheet.
Kenan Yıldız would be my first choice.
Juventus may have absolutely no desire to sell him. Fine. Make them prove it.
Put enough money on the table to force a conversation. He is young, technically exceptional and capable of giving Arsenal something different in the final third. If Juventus still refuse, shake hands and move on.
Then ring Paris.
Bradley Barcola’s situation is worth watching extremely closely, particularly while Liverpool continue to circle without apparently completing a deal.
Arsenal cannot buy everybody Liverpool want, obviously, but there comes a point where allowing rivals to collect elite attacking talent without even entering the conversation becomes rather irritating.
Barcola’s speed and ability to attack defenders would immediately alter the dynamic of Arsenal’s left side.
That is the calibre of signing Arsenal should be looking for.
There could still be one outrageous final move
And this is where I become greedy.
Gyökeres deserves his opportunity. He is powerful, scores goals and could prove an excellent signing.
But if Julián Álvarez or Victor Osimhen unexpectedly becomes attainable before the deadline, Arsenal have to listen.
Even if it creates an awkward conversation.
Even if it means moving Gyökeres on almost immediately.
Football clubs are not supposed to operate according to whether a decision feels a bit embarrassing.
If Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray or Barcelona came forward with serious money for Gyökeres and Arsenal had a genuine chance of replacing him with Álvarez or Osimhen, I would do it.
Álvarez would bring movement, intelligence, creativity and the ability to operate virtually anywhere across the front line.
Osimhen would bring something rather less subtle: terrifying pace, physicality and goals.
Lots of goals.
Neither opportunity may materialise, of course. That is why I wouldn’t make striker the priority.
But I would keep the phone switched on until the deadline passes.
Don’t waste the opportunity
Arsenal don’t need another rebuild.
That’s what makes the next couple of weeks so important.
The foundations are already there. The Community Shield demonstrated that. This is a powerful, organised and increasingly deep Arsenal side capable of beating Manchester City convincingly.
Now comes the difficult bit: being ruthless enough to improve it further.
Find homes for Jesus, Nelson and Vieira. Decide whether keeping Nwaneri is genuinely best for his development. Consider cashing in on Martinelli while his value remains substantial. Finish the defensive work and spend heavily on a left winger who can frighten teams.
And if something extraordinary becomes possible at centre-forward, be ready.
Arsenal have spent several years building a team capable of challenging for the biggest trophies.
This window shouldn’t end with them merely looking strong.
It should end with everyone else looking at Arsenal and wondering how the hell they’re going to stop them.
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