Arsenal's Premier League rivals are in a frantic transfer scramble to close the gap on the reigning champions before Tuesday's deadline. The Gunners, who sit sixth with three points from one game, have already strengthened significantly this summer while their competitors face clear squad deficiencies, according to a report from ESPN Soccer.

Arsenal began their title defence with a 3-0 victory, putting them three points behind early leaders Manchester City. Their next challenge is an away fixture against 17th-placed Aston Villa on August 31. You can track their progress on our standings page.

How have Arsenal strengthened this summer?

Mikel Arteta's side have been proactive in the market. They completed the permanent signing of defender Piero Hincapié after his loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Midfield dynamo Bruno Guimarães arrived from Newcastle United, while defender Ezri Konsa was brought in from Aston Villa. Winger Christos Tzolis joined from Club Brugge. There is also reported interest in forward Julián Álvarez from Atletico Madrid before the window shuts at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Arteta has ruled out a move for 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite belief the club might offload him.

What are Manchester City's remaining needs?

Pep Guardiola's side have been the biggest spenders, committing over £280 million on new signings while raising £235 million from sales. Key departures included James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, Sávio, Omar Marmoush, and Rodri, with John Stones and Bernardo Silva leaving on free transfers. Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi joined the squad. A pressing concern is the lack of cover for star striker Erling Haaland. Last season, only Haaland and Antoine Semenyo scored double figures, with Phil Foden netting seven league goals. The club is attempting to sign Enzo Fernández from Chelsea to bolster their options.

Where must Chelsea and Manchester United improve?

Chelsea have spent £350 million this summer but raised just under £150 million from sales. They have agreed a £7.5 million deal with Aston Villa for 33-year-old goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, a former Arsenal player. A major storyline is the potential departure of Enzo Fernández to Manchester City in a deal that could reach £120 million.

Manchester United, back in the Champions League after two years away, have spent £150 million on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, and Andrey Santos. Marcus Rashford has returned from a season-long loan at Barcelona. A clear weakness is at left-back, where Luke Shaw, who joined in 2014, is the only senior left-footed option. The club has shown interest in Barcelona's 22-year-old Alejandro Balde and has monitored Newcastle's 21-year-old Lewis Hall.

What is Liverpool's transfer situation?

Liverpool have reportedly agreed to sign France international winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Their record signing remains Germany's Florian Wirtz, a £116 million arrival from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Manager Andoni Iraola has used Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai in his team, but a need for a defensive midfielder persists. As one report posed, "Where can you find a proven goal scorer between now and the transfer deadline?"

The final hours of the window will define the squads for the coming months. Arsenal's rivals must act decisively to mount a serious challenge, while the Gunners will look to maintain their strong start. Fans can view the updated squad lists once the deadline passes.