Mikel Arteta has a number of Arsenal aims to fulfil during the summer transfer window with a huge one nearing completion.
In addition to expected central midfield and goalkeeper arrivals, the Gunners want to sign a striker, wide forward and defender, football.london understands. Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga look all-set to be the club's first two summer signings.
The main targets for those other positions include Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Rodrygo and Nico Williams. The latter looks set to be off the table soon as Barcelona have agreed personal terms with the Athletic Club star.
Rodrygo, meanwhile, has reminded Arsenal of his quality with an assist in Real Madrid's Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on Wednesday evening.
As for the latest on Gyokeres and Sesko, multiple twists in both striker sagas have taken place, but with varying consequences. Talk of an agreement on personal terms with the RB Leipzig star has emerged with his agent also commenting on a potential exit.
Gyokeres and Sporting CP continue to be at odds with the Swede's entourage recently turning down chance to have peace talks following on from a major disagreement over how much he would be allowed to depart for.
The potential addition of a defender is an interesting on, too, given the amount of options at Arteta's disposal. However, with Oleksandr Zinchenko set to leave as Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have been plagued by injuries, it does make sense.
Talk of Real Madrid planning a deal for Miles Lewis-Skelly on a free transfer next summer has also ramped up, but any fears over that happening look set to be avoided. That is because the Gunners and Lewis-Skelly have agreed a new contract.
The Athletic have added that he will become one of the highest-paid young players in the game - with Arteta playing a key role in the extension.
Over recent seasons, Los Blancos have sanctioned some huge deals for free with Kylian Mbappe making the move from Paris Saint-Germain back in 2024 for no transfer fee, while former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is the latest to join at the end of his contract.
It was not quite a free transfer for the latter, however, as Real chose to pay £8.4million (€10m) to have him for the Club World Cup. That is still a significant loss for Liverpool with transfermarkt having his market value at £64million (€75m).
As for Arsenal, they have not lost their homegrown full-back for a minimal amount and - with that - another key player has been retained.
Given his performances last season, it is no surprise tying him down to a new bumper contract was a big priority. The 18-year-old has bags of potential and him being unleashed into midfield is likely on the horizon.
Seeing how he handled the occasion at the Santiago Bernabeu, the teenager has all the capabilities to captain his boyhood club and in the long-term, this could easily prove to be Arsenal's most important deal of the summer.