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Mikel Arteta is set to take charge of his second full season at Arsenal. After a rather disappointing 2020-21 season, a lot is expected from them this season. Arsenal seems to be very active in the transfer market so far, with several players being linked with moves to and away from the club. They have also completed the signing of left-back Nuno Tavares from Benfica.
The club needs to make a lot of changes if they are to compete for the top four again, and one of those changes is at right-back. Hector Bellerin has been a superb player for the last seven years, having worked his way up through the academy.
He also established himself as a first-team regular under Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Arteta, and has made over 230 appearances for Arsenal. Bellerin has been a key part of whatever little success Arsenal have had recently, winning three FA Cups and three Community Shields with the Gunners.
However, over the last two seasons, the Spaniard's performances have declined, and it looks as though both he and Arsenal need a fresh start. According to several reports, Arsenal are open to selling him if the right offer arrives and Bellerin himself fancies a move away from the club as well.
If Bellerin leaves to join a new club, signing a new right-back will be a key part of Arsenal's transfer plans. Here is a look at five players they should target:
#5 Denzel Dumfries
There have been no concrete rumors linking Denzel Dumfries to Arsenal so far. But after an impressive showing for the Netherlands at Euro 2020, several big clubs have reportedly shown interest in the PSV player.
The transfer is a bit of a long shot, but it is definitely worth mentioning him on this list if Arteta is serious about turning things around at Arsenal. Dumfries himself has openly admitted that he could leave PSV this summer. With a valuation of just £14.4 million according to Transfermarkt, he is well within Arsenal's price range.
However, with several top European clubs interested in him, luring him to Arsenal could prove to be a challenge for Arteta and Edu. The Gunners find themselves in a rebuilding phase, and they need to be able to sell their project well to attract the best possible talent.
#4 Max Aarons
Max Aarons was linked with Arsenal last summer after he was one of Norwich's standout players in the 2019-20 season that ended in relegation. However, he decided to stay at Norwich to help them gain promotion back to the Premier League and has once again been tipped to move for big money.
After impressing in the Premier League and the Championship last season, Aarons has proved he can hold his own with the best. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young full-backs in England.
Aarons would also instantly fulfill Bellerin’s homegrown spot in the squad and fit Mikel Arteta’s system very well as an attack-minded full-back. He averaged 1.4 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per league outing in 2020-21, via WhoScored, with Bellerin managing a much lower 0.8 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game.
Aarons would be an amazing signing for Arsenal and a long-term investment that is bound to eventually pay off. But with several clubs interested and his English nationality, Aarons' price could skyrocket very quickly. Arsenal need to act fast if they are to sign him this summer.
#3 Mehmet Zeki Celik
Mehmet Zeki Celik was linked with a move to Arsenal in early June this year. The talks seem to have cooled down since then, but the Turkish international would be an amazing addition to Arsenal. Celik has been excellent since joining Lille in 2018 and helped them win the Ligue 1 title last season.
The Turk has just two years left on his current contract and would be available for just around €15 million, which should be well within Arsenal's budget. Celik is a threat going forward which fits perfectly with Arteta's plan but also carries out his defensive duties well.
Celik averaged 3.02 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 last season (as per Fbref). Both numbers prove his ability to win the ball back off dribblers and how well he times his defensive runs.
With him in the team, Lille conceded just 23 times in 38 league matches, with the right-back also scoring three and assisting two goals during the Ligue 1 season. Arsenal have done business with Lille previously, having signed Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Magalhaes. This could give them an advantage if they choose to negotiate for Celik.
#2 Noussair Mazraoui
Just like Mehmet Zeki Celik, Noussair Mazraoui was linked with a move to Arsenal in early June, but the rumors have died down since then. The Moroccan international would be a superb addition to Arsenal, and his excellent technical understanding of the game would suit Arteta's tactical setup.
The Moroccan has a playing style similar to that of Manchester City's Joao Cancelo. He often moves into midfield to bolster the attack centrally, attempting to engage with the channels and provide support going forward.
Mazraoui is in the final year of his Ajax contract. He does not seem interested in extending his stay and Ajax are reportedly prepared to sell him for as low as €10 million. With Arsenal looking to save as much money on transfers as possible, signing him is a no-brainer. Clubs like Bayern Munich have also reportedly shown interest in Mazraoui and Arsenal need to act fast if they are to sign him.
Mazraoui is reportedly so good that Moroccan coach Vahid Halilhodžić often switches Achraf Hakimi's position to either right-winger or left-back to accommodate him in the national team.
#1 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Most Arsenal fans will be surprised to see him on this list and believe he is not good enough to become the club's first-choice right-back. But at a time when the club needs to be saving money wherever possible, they should not make a rash decision and sell a player who has shown tremendous potential.
Due to his limited first-team opportunities, Maitland-Niles looked destined to leave Arsenal permanently at the start of last season, but Arteta managed to convince him to stay on. He ended up going out on loan to West Brom, and although they got relegated, he was a central to whatever little success the team enjoyed.
Despite this slight shift in his career trajectory, Maitland-Niles has shown glimpses of having what it takes to be a first-team regular at Arsenal. Towards the end of the 2019-20 season, he proved that he can play the 'Arteta way,' and helped them win the FA Cup. This versatility is something Arsenal should capitalize on.
Maitland-Niles is still a very raw player, but already has four years of Premier League experience under his belt. After investing so much in his development, it's only fair to give him a chance before deciding to let him leave the club.
