Arsenal are set for an important summer in the transfer market, with a need to upgrade the forward line, after 2025’s efforts have failed to bring about a desired result as football.london rates every signing.
14:33, 21 Apr 2026Updated 14:42, 21 Apr 2026
Arsenal's summer signings rated as Viktor Gyokeres sparks disagreement
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Arsenal's summer signings rated as Viktor Gyokeres sparks disagreement(Image: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The season is entering its final stages with a Premier League and Champions League title still a very realistic possibility for Arsenal. The title race has become much more challenging after back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City; however, there is plenty of reason for optimism despite recent setbacks.
Andrea Berta was tasked in the summer with helping build a team that Mikel Arteta could take to a first Premier League victory in 22 years. The Italian added seven players in addition to Martin Zubimendi, whose transfer was agreed under the previous regime with aid from Edu Gaspar and Jason Ayto.
The season has revealed many existing shortcomings as the squad has been tested by injuries for a second successive campaign. While dealing with it better thanks to the depth which was simply not present in 2024/25, Arteta has still be criticised for not rotating and resting players as effectively as his main rival Pep Guardiola.
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With five games left and a Champions League semi-final to come, it feels like an all-or-nothing scenario for the Gunners. Many of their signings will have key roles to play in that, while others will either remain on the sidelines or could yet face further scrutiny or high praise before the final ball is kicked.
Chelsea spent around £250million with the expectation of Piero Hincapie’s loan move to be made permanent in the summer, taking the overall investment close to £300million. So, with a bit of time to look and reflect, Arsenal reporter Tom Canton and football reporter Ryan Taylor discuss which signings have been a success, which have failed and what to do next.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Tom: At the time of his arrival, just £5million looked to be a deal too good to be true, especially after performing so well for Bournemouth. He has had good moments, including a penalty shootout penalty save to see the Gunners reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, but it was in that tournament final where mistakes, sadly seen before in his career, cost the Gunners a potential trophy, and therefore the move will sadly be looked on less favourably.
A younger, hungrier number two with less of a painful past would be the smarter next choice; perhaps Tommy Setford has earned his chance?
Tom’s verdict: Sell.
Ryan: There was some external frustration with Kepa following domestic cup defeats to Manchester City and Southampton but he's a sturdy back-up goalkeeper and you would struggle to 'upgrade' him for a small fee.
Unless he pushes to leave, I don't think it's worth the hassle trying to replace him as he's vastly experienced and can do a job in place of David Raya. I still just feel Mikel Arteta should have played Raya in the Carabao Cup final and maybe even against Southampton.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep.
Christian Norgaard
Tom: Again, in the summer, a move for around £10million looked like a good one to replace the outgoing Jorginho. A player with Premier League experience but it seems after coming in his quality has not been deemed of sufficient enough of a level to get more than around an hour of league minutes.
This has meant Martin Zubimendi has needed to play far too much football in his first season. If he’s not trusted, he needs to leave.
Tom’s verdict: Sell.
Ryan: I'm surprised at how underused Norgaard has been this season, it doesn't really feel like he's trusted by Arteta. Martin Zubimendi has looked knackered and Norgaard is more than capable of doing a job at the base of midfield.
Arsenal overpaid for him last summer but I would still keep hold of him as he's good around the dressing room, on the training pitch and can slot in at centre-back if required.
That doesn't mean Arsenal shouldn't sign another central midfielder though, I think another versatile No.6 that can also play as a No.8 should be among their top priorities (with a left-winger and new right-back).
Ryan's verdict: Keep
Cristhian Mosquera
Tom: Definitely one of the bargains of the summer, the Spaniard is now potentially in line to make the World Cup squad too after impressing for Arsenal. He remains raw in some areas, and has a temptation to dive into some challenges but he has played right-back and right and left centre-half – when football.london asked Arteta about him recently, his words speak for themselves.
“That's one of the qualities that we liked about him, and when Andrea [Berta] proposed the player, he knew him very well from Valencia," he said. "We started to analyse him, and we needed a player of that profile. It's surprisingly positive the way he's done it because to ask him to settle in the Premier League at this level is one thing. To ask him to play in three different positions regardless of the moment of the position is something else, and he's been phenomenal."
Tom’s verdict: Keep.
Ryan: Mosquera was a bargain and I think he'll have a big future at Arsenal. He can do a job at right-back and is the heir to William Saliba's throne, though Saliba won't be going anywhere anytime soon. A brilliant purchase from Andrea Berta and a profile with huge potential.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep.
Cristhian Mosquera has impressed since arriving last summer
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Cristhian Mosquera has impressed since arriving last summer(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Noni Madueke
Tom: Whether or not Noni Madueke has been a success, it is important to stress that the reaction to his arrival, which sparked serious backlash and even defacing of the area around Emirates Stadium, was frankly a joke and disgusting. Arsenal needed to bring in a player who would provide depth to Bukayo Saka, with Ethan Nwaneri seen more as a central player, but to be honest, Madueke has struggled to offer much more than the now-Marseille loanee arguably would have.
Two Premier League goals is just not enough, but the issue is that he would be very difficult to sell, and with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard potentially on the way out this summer, it might be that there is still use for him in next season’s squad. That being said, a player like Max Dowman, and arguably Nwaneri if he stays, should be used far more than Madueke on the right from next season.
Tom’s verdict: Keep (unless a good offer arrives).
Ryan: Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal swooped for Madueke, but he then made a strong impact in the first six weeks or so of the season.
Since then, he's blown hot and cold, and personally, I don't think he was worth the money Arsenal paid to sign him. He won't be sold, but I think Arsenal could do better, and I'd also like to see them utilise Ethan Nwaneri as well as Max Dowman.
Ryan’s verdict: Sell.
Piero Hincapie
Tom: A really great piece of business by Arsenal, and with the fitness issues witnessed once again by Riccardo Calafiori, the Ecuador international’s form in 2026 has stood out as one of the top performers this season, and despite the title setbacks, they would be much worse were it not for the loanee’s efforts. Defensively really good and his more traditional offensive full-back style is another welcome sight in the side.
Tom’s verdict: Sign permanently as agreed.
Ryan: A sturdy signing and one that provides Arsenal with real defensive depth. It's plain to see why Arsenal pushed so hard to get him late in the window, and he'll be part of their future for years to come when he signs permanently this summer.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep
Martin Zubimendi
Tom: I think some of the commentary around Martin Zubimendi in the second half of the season has gone way too far. We’re talking about a player who, in the first half of the season, was being lauded as one of the signings of the season and potentially on course for a Player of the Season award for the club.
He has faded, and linking back to the words on Norgaard, it is a failure in recruitment if the number two defensive midfielder is not being trusted to offer more respite for the starter. He needs to get some of the sloppy mistakes out of his game but overall he’s clearly an upgrade for the position and is able to fit whereas the man he replaced simply wasn’t but he has been overplayed no doubt and Arsenal have paid for that as a result.
Tom’s verdict: Keep (Better minute management next season).
Ryan: Zubimendi's first and second halves of the season have been like chalk and cheese.
He looks a shadow of his former self because of the number of minutes he has played, but still, he's been a fine addition to Mikel Arteta's squad and looks assured in the Premier League.
With some proper rest, I'd back him to be a big player for the club over the next few years.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep.
Viktor Gyokeres could be dropped by Mikel Arteta as Arsenal take on Manchester City with Noni Madueke recovering from knee injury
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Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke have had mixed starts to their Arsenal careers(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres
Tom: The most important signing of Arsenal’s summer was the centre-forward. The player meant to guarantee the step forward to another level in the attack, but sadly that has just not worked out.
Individually, Gyokeres could yet bag 20 goals across all competitions, but nine non-penalty goals in the league, even just on his own, have been well below the hopes for the player. The step up to the English top flight from a Portuguese league where around half the teams could be argued are below even Championship level is being seen. It sadly continues the trend of centre-forwards leaving Portugal, like Darwin Nunez, Joao Felix, and Fabio Silva, for big money and not making the desired impact when moving straight or via another league to the Premier League.
Arsenal need to find a solution and Kai Havertz’s misses at Man City despite scoring show that while a better fit, the German still lacks the ruthless composure needed at Arsenal to bring the best out of others and step up to score consistently. Gyokeres is of an age bracket where there was no free-hit season, if Arsenal can replace him with a Julian Alvarez then they absolutely should.
Tom’s verdict: Sell.
Ryan: Gyokeres is like footballing marmite. One week he's highly appreciated, the next he's considered a big-money flop.
In my view, he was not the right tactical fit for Arsenal, who like to build play as opposed to hitting teams on the break.
When Gyokeres has space, as he did for Sporting and does in international football with Sweden, where games are slightly more open, he's effective.
I would still keep him as he's capable of scoring 15-20 goals a season but in my view, Julian Alvarez would be an upgrade.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep
Eberechi Eze
Tom: I would be lying if I said I haven’t been disappointed overall with a player who I was desperate for Arsenal to sign. But to be fair, I don’t think he has been used anywhere near as much as he should have been.
I have wanted for quite some time to see Eze used as Arsenal’s consistent left-sided attacker, at least while Martin Odegaard remains in the side. As soon as he isn’t, then of course Eze should be the central playmaker.
Against Man City and Aston Villa, we have seen him used there from the start. He made an error defensively at Villa, which I think was unfairly overanalysed, and as a result, he dropped out of the side for way too long. That is on Arteta, and it could prove costly in the long run.
I hope Eze plays on the left until the end of the season and believe firmly he could have a huge hand in helping Arsenal lift a major piece of silverware this season.
Tom’s verdict: Keep and use a lot more!
Ryan: Eze has had so many fine moments in his debut Arsenal season, but it would be good to see him become more consistent and less streaky.
Most No.10s go through spells of good and bad form, but Eze has it within himself to become a very important player for Arsenal, and that should be what he aspires towards.
Ryan’s verdict: Keep.
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