It has almost been two weeks since the last Premier League game but now, with the international break done, fans can turn their attention to the crunch games that await us this weekend. The excitement of the first three match days will only become more this weekend as the Premier League has a host of new talent that has moved to the country in the final week of the transfer window.
The clubs in the domestic league have managed to secure services of top transfer targets even on deadline day and have added more quality to the league as a whole. These late signing will have their first experience of the new season with their new club and can provide for a lot of memorable moments. With the weekend just a couple of days away, here are 3 late summer signings to watch out for in the Premier League this weekend.
Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
The German international, who made a much anticipated move to Arsenal in a £35m deal, will be one of the most exciting prospects in the league this season. The manager has used the likes of Rob Holding and Laurent Koscielny at the back for the first few games after Per Mertesacker and Gabriel picked up long injuries. The 24-year old will probably get to start this weekend over Southampton and will have a great chance to prove his worth after the amount of money Wenger reluctantly spent on him. He has shown great determination even on international duty and might be an important player for Arsenal this season and also years to come.
Sofiane Boufal (Southampton)
The club-record signing for the Saints, Sofiane Boufal, is one of the many players that Claude Puel, the new manager at the St Mary’s has brought to the club this summer. The former Nice attacking midfielder helped the side to a 5th placed finish last season scoring 7 goals in the domestic league and also picking up 3 assists.
Jay Rodriguez, Shane Long, Charlie Austin, Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic have played in an interchangeable attack line and Boufal will only add more firepower to the attack. He may not walk into the first team yet but is a player who will have an impact on the team in his debut season.
Alvaro Arbeloa (West Ham United)
Champions League and World Cup winner in Spain, Alvaro Arbeloa, was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu this summer and was left without a contract at the club. However, Slaven Bilic, who is fresh from a loss to Manchester City, decided to offer the 33-year old a chance back in the Premier League on a one-year contract. It will be interesting to see if the manager plays him in his original right-back position or a wing back position in the 3-5-2 formation that he used in the game against City.
It is an interesting move for the experienced defender who will surely help the Hammers in their search for a better finish from the previous season. He may not play every game for the side, but will be an influence at the back that can be the difference in close games.
