How Arsenal will use the Summer Transfer Window to fine tune for title glory | OneFootball

A generation of Arsenal supporters have never seen their club win the league title, as the Invincibles of 2004 remain the last collection of players to claim the biggest prize in English football for the north London club.

Ending that barren run is top of manager Mikel Arteta’s priority list as he reviews another season of progress, but no silverware, and plots how to take the final step from challengers to champions.

The Basque coach has transformed Arsenal on and off the pitch since he was appointed in 2019, winning the FA Cup in his first season in charge.

He has since firmly established Arsenal as one of the best clubs in Europe, as 2024’s Champions League last eight appearance and this year’s impressive run to the semi-final proved. Successive seasons of being the closest challengers to the Premier League crown also show how close they have gone domestically.

So, how do Arteta and his Arsenal colleagues, from the boardroom to the boot room, fine tune this summer to help them become trophy winners in 2026?

Current Squad Assessment

With new sporting director Andrea Berta now established at Arsenal, his first task might be to secure the long-term future of players such as Real Madrid target William Saliba, highly coveted fellow defender Gabriel, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey and homegrown teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. A contract is also awaiting Bukayo Saka’s signature.

Then, but presumably simultaneously, they need to address a patently too small squad.

A lack of resources in attack, coupled with injuries, were Arsenal’s biggest enemies in the 2024-25 season. Going into their final two matches, they had been without one of 27 players at various stages of the season. That is by far the highest number of any Premier League rival.

The most significant long-term absences were suffered by Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori.

The emergence of homegrown Hale End stars Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri took the edge off the pain at times but ultimately cost them the chance to challenge.

This is how those injuries impacted Arteta’s selection options in terms of how many matches some of his key players were unavailable for: Tomiyasu 35, White 17, Havertz 15, Calafiori 15, Saka 13, Tierney 12, Odegaard 8, Gabriel 8, Zinchenko 7, Merino 7.

Arteta suffered some extreme misfortune in most of those injuries, but maybe a repeat of the plethora of hamstring problems will be averted if he has a wider pool of players to rotate in the future.

Summer INS and OUTS

Striker

IN: The no-brainer signing every Arsenal fan and pundit have been demanding for a season or three.

Arsenal have shown interest in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and their ambition will not be questioned if they meet the Swede’s £120-£150million valuation. Alternatively, or even additional options include Isak’s compatriot Viktor Gyokores at Sporting CP, Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams has a £48 million release clause.

OUT: A big-money bid for versatile Belgium forward Leandro Trossard might prove irresistible for a 30-year-old. Gabriel Jesus was primed for a summer departure to help ease the wage bill but his long-term injury means he is likely to continue his road to fitness in London and remain at Arsenal until January at least. Raheem Sterling’s Chelsea loan will not be renewed.

Midfield

IN: Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is as good as signed for £50 million. The Spanish international is essentially a  defensive midfielder so will either provide as cover or a replacement for Thomas Partey.

OUT: New homes will be sought for forgotten trio Nuno Tavares, Albert Lokonga and Fabio Vieira.

Defence

IN: Arsenal are known to be keen on Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen but might not be the only club prepared to trigger his £50 million release clause.

OUT: An overt interest in Huijsen might indicate a fear Saliba or Gabriel could be tempted away from the club. It could just as likely mean they are lining up a replacement for Poland defender Jakub Kiwior, who has become a more valuable asset for the way he stepped in when Gabriel was injured at the business end of the season. Oleksandr Zinchenko is wanted by Borussia Dortmund and could be released at the right price. Kieran Tierney is Celtic bound on a free.

Goalkeeper

IN: Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has been a long-term target to come in as a number two to David Raya, but they are not the only admirers of the 24-year-old.

OUT: On loan Bournemouth keeper Neto will be returned to sender.

Conclusion

There is a double window this summer, kicking off from 1 June to 10 June and followed by a second bout running from 16 June to 1 September.

Berta and Arteta will be busy hoping to conclude as many deals as possible before Arsenal fly out to Singapore and Hong Kong for the last two weeks of July for pre-season matches against AC Milan, Newcastle United and Tottenham.