Arsenal are 'set to complete' deals for Albert Sambi Lokonga (€17.5m+add-ons) and Nuno Tavares (€8m+add-ons), transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
The Anderlecht midfielder and the Benfica full-back are poised to become Arsenal's first signings this summer.
So we take a look at how the Gunners could line up with both.
Lokonga is a combative box-to-box midfielder, capable of breaking up play and quickly moving the ball forward. He is likely to come as a replacement for the departing Granit Xhaka, although we don't know whether the young Belgian is ready to become a nailed-on starter at Arsenal.
Tavares is a highly-rated left-back who likes to attack and use his pace to take on opposition defenders. He can play as a right-back as well. When on the right-hand side, he likes to push forward and cut inside as his stronger left foot becomes an advantage.
Option 1. Tavares obviously comes in as a Kieran Tierney understudy, so expect him to play on the left-hand side when KT is suspended or injured. Lokonga will partner Partey.
Option 2. With Bellerin leaving the club, Arsenal need a right-back to replace him. While not a natural right-sided player, Tavares can play there too.
Option 3. Tierney and Tavares can play together as a part of a back-five shape Arteta used last summer. This way, Nuno plays a wing-back and Kieran is deployed as an overlapping centre-back.
