With July beckoning, Arsenal are in the process of finalising a number of deals to bolster their squad in the hopes of achieving Premier League success for the first time since 2004.
Mikel Arteta’s side have finished as runners-up for the last three seasons, struggling to find the final spark needed to become England’s best.
The Gunners swiftly pursued a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who, despite strong interest from Real Madrid, gave the green light to Arsenal’s proposal following several conversations with Arteta.
The Spain international is excellent at breaking lines with progressive passes and resisting high presses, making him the perfect fit in defensive midfield in Arteta’s possession-based system.
After Aaron Ramsdale’s departure last summer and Neto’s unsuccessful loan spell, Arsenal acted quickly to secure Kepa as the backup to David Raya for the 25/26 campaign.
The Chelsea goalkeeper, available on a £5 million clause, is set to join after loan spells at Real Madrid and Bournemouth, and is understood to be content with playing a supporting role to his Spanish compatriot in the goalkeeping department.
Following Jorginho’s move to Flamengo, Arsenal identified Brentford captain Christian Norgaard as his €11 million replacement, bringing proven Premier League leadership to the Gunners’ midfield.
Additionally, the search for another centre-back has led them to Spain U21 international Cristhian Mosquera, with personal terms already agreed for the Valencia defender.
Christhian Mosquera away with
(Photo Credit: Tullio Puglia - UEFA via Getty Images)
The team will fly out to Singapore for their pre-season tour of Asia in mid-July, giving Arteta and his recruitment team roughly three weeks to finalise signings and integrate them into the squad ahead of the upcoming friendlies.
While the Gunners continue to weigh up options before making their decision on Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres for the centre-forward role, the need for attacking reinforcements this season has never been so clear.
In Arteta’s five years at the club, only one of 34 signings has been a centre-forward - the acquisition of Gabriel Jesus back in 2022.
Either Sesko or Gyokeres would provide Arsenal with a focal point through the middle, combining their physical presence with the ability to effectively contribute to the build-up.
However, it is becoming more evident that the Gunners are also targeting a left-winger to strengthen the attack.
New sporting director Andrea Berta brings a defined approach to transfers: he identifies and engages with a list of candidates, contacts their representatives, gathers references, and evaluates the most sensible deals before advancing with the target that best fits the club’s system and demands.
Therefore, as with other positions, Arsenal have monitored a wide range of targets for the left-wing role, ranging from players that have proven Premier League experience to some of Europe’s hottest commodities.
Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams has been a long-term target for Arsenal, impressing with his excellent on-the-ball work and blistering speed. However, the 22-year-old has expressed a strong desire to join Barcelona over all other clubs interested, leading the Gunners to cool their interest.
Leroy Sané was one of the other names discussed, given his experience under Arteta during their time at Manchester City. The 29-year-old, who excelled in the Premier League, ultimately opted to join Galatasaray, offering a net salary of €15 million per year.
While a deal at this stage seems unlikely, Rodrygo is another name that has been put forward. Reports indicate that he is growing unhappy with his situation at Real Madrid. The Brazilian has seen his game time drop with Vinicius Jr, Arda Guler and now Franco Mastantuono entering the fold.
The 24-year-old would be a statement signing, having scored five and assisted twice in the Champions League this season. Additionally, he is excellent at making clever runs behind defences and is highly effective when taking on defenders with the ball at his feet.
However, Arsenal may explore targets within the Premier League. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has been discussed, with a £68 million release clause in his contract. The Eagles may be open to a deal, with the 28-year-old tempted by the prospect of Champions League football.
Similarly, Morgan Rogers fits a similar profile - both players can operate on the left or in a central attacking midfield role. The Aston Villa midfielder had 14 goals and 10 assists in all competitions as the Villains secured Champions League qualification.
Signing either would kill two birds with one stone, providing support for Martin Ødegaard and allowing him the rest he has missed this season.
Wingers such as Malick Fofana and Ademola Lookman also fit the profile Arsenal are targeting and could be another sensible option. Fofana’s situation at Lyon is being closely monitored by several clubs following the French outfit’s relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial troubles.
Meanwhile, Lookman seems destined to move on from Atalanta after tensions grew with former manager Gian Piero Gasperini. Although former Southampton boss Ivan Jurić is now in charge in Bergamo, the African Footballer of the Year could make a return to the Premier League, having scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for La Dea.
Fofana and Lookman both share similar traits - speed, agility and directness. They both also excel at high pressing, which would make them valuable assets for a high-intensity system under Arteta.
While Arsenal are yet to undergo formal negotiations with any targets for the left wing, early signs are promising that the Gunners will recruit strongly as they look to turn promise into silverware next season.