Arsenal have completed the signings of Tavares and Lokonga.
Arsenal have commenced their summer transfer business by announcing the signings of youngsters Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Tavares was the first arrival as Gunners bought him for a reported £8m deal from Benfica.
Lokonga is the recent acquisition from Belgian outfit Anderlecht in a deal worth £18m, with Gunners fighting off several clubs in the race.
Currently deprived of funds, the Gunners’ transfer window is expected to be a quiet one. As it has been turning out, Arteta is betting on young talents rather than high profile names, which is brilliant considering the current financial situation.
The North Londoners will enter into the next season with the baggage of their last season’s debacle. Returning to the top-four battle is never going to be easy, but Arteta hasn’t got any options left following the club’s decline in recent years.
Talking about the squad overhaul, fans would be delighted to see youngsters getting signed for the Premier League side.
Tavares was bought to strengthen the left-back position following Kieran Tierney’s fitness issues last season.
The 21-year-old made an immediate impact by scoring in a pre-season friendly against Rangers, and Arteta will demand more from the youngster next season.
Lokonga, another 21-year-old, has been playing with Anderlecht first team over the last few years and received rave reviews for his performance, and if it is not enough, he had earned a call-up from the Belgium national team earlier this year.
The Gunners have recently let Matteo Guendouzi go to Marseille on loan, and Xhaka has been strongly linked with Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma. Furthermore, Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard are unlikely to return from Real Madrid after their loan spell ended last season.
This is where Lokonga can bring solidity and a breath of fresh air to Arteta’s midfield.
