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The former Gunners defender hopes another playmaker can be added to the ranks at Emirates Stadium before the summer window closes.
Mikel Arteta has “his eye on a few more players,” says Lee Dixon, and the former Arsenal defender hopes that a deal can be reached for a player of the stature of Houssem Aouar, as additional creativity will be “key.” for the Gunners.
A raid in Lyon for highly-rated playmaker Aouar has been discussed for some time and formal offers have been made, but the Ligue 1 team has yet to see a high asking price.
Arsenal are refusing to compromise on one main goal, with Atlético de Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey another in their sights, and Dixon believes the deals will be finalized before the October 5 deadline.
The gunners told him talkSPORT of Arteta’s efforts to strengthen his ranks: “I think he has his eye on a few more players. If you can get them over the line in the next week or so …
“I think a creative midfielder is key. When [Dani] Ceballos entered [against Liverpool] you could see the difference in that creative side of things.
“It’s very difficult to be under that kind of pressure for so long against a brilliant pressure team, and then go play their football because they are absolutely exhausted. We have all played against a team that suffocates you.
“So they need a little creativity in midfield to get them out of those situations where they have been under pressure.”
Arsenal fell to a 3-1 loss at Anfield in their most recent Premier League outing, but Dixon believes there have been many encouraging signs for the north London team under Arteta’s leadership.
He added: “I think from Arsenal’s point of view it’s a good reality check because it shows them how far they have to go and how far they have come. That would have been a hit with Unai Emery.
“I was sitting on the fence when Arteta got the job because it was her first job. Was it too early in your learning curve? But what he’s doing at the club, what he’s doing to the players, what he’s doing on training ground and how they’re responding, has changed some of them and has them playing in a way that everyone understands.
“Yes, there are many improvements to be made, but they were playing against one of the best teams in the world.”
Arteta has delivered big titles during his brief time as Gunners boss, with FA Cup and Community Shield glory taken over, but returning to the top four and Champions League competition remains the ultimate goal.
Asked about the “realistic” ambitions for Arsenal in 2020-21, Dixon said: “There is always the ambition to win a trophy, we did it last year and I think that is always in the background.
“If you can have a good cup race, it’s great and builds confidence and it’s something tangible for people to look at and say, ‘Yeah, we’ve won it.
“We have to take into account the lack of preseason and the unusual situation we find ourselves in, but I feel that Arteta will be in the top four, an absolute minimum. He is a very ambitious young coach. ‘
“You have to be in the top four now. They have fallen so far from grace that that used to be enough and now all of a sudden it’s the Holy Grail. So that’s the next step. “
