What do Arsenal Need This Summer

• Tweet
• Pin It

Weeks before the summer transfer window opens, the rumor mill swings into action, and much of the focus will be on Arsenal this time. The club has proved that it can compete for the title, but a disappointing Champions League campaign means that the Gunners will surely look to strengthen in the offseason. 

Where do Arsenal need those reinforcements in order to contest trophies on all fronts through 2024/25 and beyond? 

A Striking Dilemma 

Arsenal have achieved much in the Premier League, and they’ve done it without a prolific frontman. Manchester City have Erling Haaland, Liverpool have Mo Salah, but while those two players context the Golden Boot, Arsenal’s two out-and-out strikers have underperformed. 

Bukayo Saka finishes the campaign as the club’s leading scorer while Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus are way down the overall Premier League list. 

According to media reports, there is no shortage of targets as the transfer window approaches. The most exciting of these is Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian international striker who has been prolific since joining Napoli in 2020. Arsenal face competition from Chelsea, but they may have a clear run at Ivan Toney, who is expected to leave Brentford in the summer. 

Throughout the last two seasons, scores and odds have fluctuated based on goals, and Arsenal may even start as favorites for the title, if they can land the right striker this summer. 

Midfield Reinforcements 

Arsenal are also thought to be looking for a back up to Declan Rice in the heart of midfield, The England international was lured away from West Ham United last summer, and can genuinely be considered as the signing of the season. 

The Gunners need greater depth in their squad if they are going to compete on all fronts next term, and that’s why they need cover for Rice. Reports claim that Mikel Arteta will follow up on long-term transfer target Martin Zubimendi, the Spanish international who currently plays for Real Sociedad. 

It’s also suggested that Zubimendi’s arrival could persuade Arteta to play Declan Rice in a more attacking role. Rice has a fierce and accurate shot, and his record of seven goals in his first 37 league games for Arsenal is impressive for a defensive midfielder. 

Raya Signing Imminent 

It’s expected that manager Mikel Arteta will move quickly to secure the signing of David Raya on a permanent basis. Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal took the Spanish goalkeeper on a loan deal from Brentford, but he’s proved his value to the club across the season. 

Raya secured the prestigious Premier League Golden Glove trophy with his 15th clean sheet of the season at the start of May, and both parties are keen to turn his temporary deal into a permanent contract. 

A permanent deal for Raya will likely spell the end for Aaron Ramsdale. A goalkeeper with international aspirations will not want to spend another campaign on the bench, so Arsenal will also need to resolve his future. 

The Departures Lounge 

Along with Aaron Ramsdale, there should be a few departures from Arsenal in the coming weeks. According to reports, the Gunners may look to sell up to seven players this summer including Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Kieran Tierney. 

Selling off some of the surplus at the Emirates will also help to build Arsenal’s transfer budget, so that the manager can turn some of these targets into confirmed deals. 

The glaring issue for Arsenal this summer is the urgent need for a striker. Goals are coming from all areas of the pitch, but the front men, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus have been underperforming. With Nketiah likely to be sold, the challenge is for the club to bring in a prolific centre forward who can guarantee around twenty goals a season. 

The Gunners are already title challengers, but imagine where they would be if they had effective firepower up front. Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney are thought to be key targets, although other rumors link the club with a move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The Swedish international striker averages at better than a goal every other game in England, and that’s the type of ratio that Arsenal need. 

There may be competition for Isak from Liverpool, while Newcastle will want to hold on to one of their best assets. 

Arsenal have shown that they can compete consistently at the top of the Premier League table, but this is going to be an important transfer window for the club.  There are issues for Mikel Arteta to resolve and it’s essential that he brings the right talent to the Emirates. 

The club will be keen to go deeper into European competition, while maintaining that title challenge, and the next few weeks will determine just how far the Gunners can go. 

• Tweet
• Pin It