Arsenal target Espanyol right-back Omar El Hilali | OneFootball

Arsenal will be more determined than ever to win the Premier League next season as the current campaign looks all but over, with Liverpool 15 points ahead of the Gunners.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may cut a defiant figure, proclaiming that his side will not give up until Liverpool are champions mathematically. However, it is hard to see the Gunners leapfrogging the Reds to the title.

The Gunners have to lick their wounds, go into the transfer window and reinforce their squad ahead of another challenge next season. One reason Arsenal struggled this term was the lack of squad depth. They need to address that issue.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could use reinforcement at right-back where he has natural centre-backs Jurrien Timber and Ben White playing. The team needs an actual right-back to provide depth in that position, and it appears the Gunners have their eyes on one in Spain.

El Hilali has provided two assists in 25 La Liga appearances this term, helping to keep three clean sheets while winning 59% of his aerial and 64% of his ground duels.

El Hilali is a defensively assured operator who records 3.73 tackles, 1.31 interceptions, 1.39 blocks, and 4.14 clearances per 90. He ranks highly for all these defensive metrics.

The Spain-born Moroccan youth international, who rejected Barcelona to stay at Espanyol, will give Arsenal a true right-back option if Arteta needs to bring one on to shake things up. He also has an affordable £12.5m release clause in his Espanyol contract.

There might be space for El Hilali on the Arsenal roster if they can shift Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney this summer. The team will benefit from having a specialist right-back in the mix.