Emmanuel Petit has backed Arsenal to bolster Mikel Arteta's squad with two midfielders this summer, including Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is valued at £70m.
Arsenal's midfield targets
Arsenal chief Josh Kroenke confirmed after the Premier League title win that Arteta would be backed in the summer transfer window. Arteta intends to sign a new midfielder, targeting England World Cup star Morgan Rogers. The club also approached Newcastle with a £45m verbal offer for Guimaraes, which was rejected, but Arsenal are expected to return with an improved bid.
Petit told Jackpot City Casino: 'Bruno Guimaraes is a good player and if you add Ayyoub Bouaddi as well, they are great options for Arsenal. But as I said, they need to clear some positions first, which means they have to sell some players. We will see at the end of the transfer market who comes after they sell players.'
Bouaddi's World Cup impact
Bouaddi, 18, is at the World Cup with Morocco, who reached the quarter-finals after beating Canada 3-0 in the last-16. Lille are aware of interest from several clubs and reportedly want around £70m for the teenager.
Petit added: 'If they buy more midfield players, they already have Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Odegaard. They probably need one or two more, but you have to keep everyone happy and manage the rotation of the team. When you need to add quality, you need to keep possession of the ball. We didn't see that against Paris Saint-Germain. They have been the best team in the world for the last two seasons and have the greatest midfield players in terms of possession. But players like Guimaraes can hold the ball.'
Odegaard's future questioned
Petit also questioned the future of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. 'The last two seasons have been difficult for Odegaard. His first three seasons with Arsenal were brilliant, scoring many goals and giving many assists as the main playmaker. But since last season, he hasn't been at his usual level in terms of stats and his impact. He was not the first choice anymore for Mikel Arteta. He has been injured for months, just like Bukayo Saka. Is it a coincidence that Saka was also struggling last season? The link between the two players disappeared. He needs to recover to his best level. I still like him, but if things don't change, his days at Arsenal will be numbered.'
