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If Arsenal decide they want to sign Jack Grealish and Viktor Gyokeres, Financial Fair Play will not stop them.
Unlike many teams in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side will not have to go about their business looking over their shoulder at FFP. Having come so close to winning the title for the first time since 2004, Arsenal look to be in an excellent position to further bolster their squad.
David Raya, who has now signed for the club permanently, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice raised the levels at the Emirates Stadium, even if it did not raise the league position. Arteta’s squad is in excellent condition. Now it is about applying the finishing touches that will propel them past Manchester City.
One of those could be the Citizens’ own record signing and £100million man Grealish, who has had to compete with jet-heeled Jeremy Doku all season. Gyokeres, the former Coventry forward turned 43 goal man for Sporting Lisbon, is a centre-forward who has attracted admiring glances from many in Europe.
Yet, the arrivals, should Arsenal decide to pursue them, has the danger of alienating two of the most popular figures in the dressing room – Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus. Trossard enjoyed a strong season in North London while Jesus struggled with injuries and inconsistent bouts of form.
Yet, they both have a positive influence in the dressing room. Rice and Gabriel Martinelli have both expressed how much they respect the duo and may be fearing that the new arrivals could see them squeezed out.
When asked what Arsenal player he got along with most when he first arrived, Rice said: “You know what? I think from the first day when I was there, Leandro Trossard.
“You wouldn’t put us two together, I would say, but he’s a really, really top guy. I sat next to him on the plane. I’ve been with him here quite a lot. He’s just an all-round top person.”
Meanwhile, in a similar interview, Martinelli vouched for his colleague when he said: “I love to play with him (Gabriel Jesus). He’s a great, great player. One of the best strikers in the world and yeah, I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
