If Arsenal are to push on from last season's charge at the Premier League title, the form of Bukayo Saka will once again be crucial.
The Englishman was once again a standout for the Gunners last season, as they had their best shot at a Premier League crown since Arsene Wenger's reign in the late 2000s.
Saka contributed 14 goals in the Premier League last season, as he continues his rise as one of the finest young attacking players in European football.
It is remarkable to think that Saka is still only 21, given his 180 appearances thus far for Arsenal, and he is widely expected to thrive once again under Mikel Arteta this season, as the club seek to end a 20-year wait for a Premier League title.
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Johan Djourou: Arsenal star Bukayo Saka worth £200m
Bukayo Saka in action for Arsenal in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League against Sporting CP (Photo: Shutterstock)
Speaking on Saka's importance to the Gunners, former Arsenal centre-back Johan Djourou exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone this week that he believes the winger is worth up to £200m in today's transfer market.
Djourou said that, should any rivals attempt to bid for Saka, Arsenal should push for the monumental fee, which would smash the British transfer record - while acknowledging that the inflation in the market makes it hard to place an exact value on the player:
Players like Saka are so important to this Arsenal side; more often than not he's the guy who makes the difference. When you look at the amount of money that's been spent on players in this transfer window, if a Man City or someone was to come in for Saka this summer, I think they'd have to go as high as maybe £200m.
I'd say £200m because, in this day and age, it's difficult to understand the value of players in the market. Especially English players, who always seem to go for a little bit more. It's tough to actually say how much he's worth. Saka is a great player, but he doesn't do everything perfect, yet. He's not the finished product yet, so you know there's still more to come from him.
Djourou played for Arsenal for a decade, making 86 Premier League appearances during a spell broken up by loan spells at Birmingham, Hannover, and Hamburg.
His former club have strengthened this summer, with the headline signing of Saka's England teammate Declan Rice - but Djourou echoed the concerns of Roy Keane that the price tag of £100m may weigh heavily on the midfielder's shoulders:
I think Declan Rice is a great player, but I think that price tag is going to stay on his shoulders for a while now. He has to show us that he's worth that money, but at the same time it's not his fault. He's not gone and said he thinks he's worth £105m, or whatever the club have paid for him. It's the market which makes these things so tricky.
The Arsenal squad that finished second last season was already mightily impressive, and Rice no doubt improves that squad alongside the new signings of Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
Nonetheless, Djourou hopes to see some more fire power added up front:
What's missing for me is a killer striker; someone who can come in and score you 20-25 goals a season. You might respond by saying they have Gabriel Jesus, and I think he's a great striker, he plays so much for the team. He runs a lot, and he gives a lot to the team - so I think the only thing they're lacking in the squad right now is a killer up-front... a guy who will take chances regularly, returning over 20 goals a season.
Arsenal get their Premier League season underway against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon at 12:30pm.
Featured image: Shutterstock
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