Premier League champions. How good does that sound, Arsenal fans? It has been a long 22 years in the waiting. 22 years arduous years since the Invincibles held the trophy aloft at Highbury.
Two decades on it was another sunny affair, this time across London in Selhurst Park where Mikel Arteta and his players finally got their hands on the title.
Arsenal-Odegaard-Saka-Timber
It was richly deserved, not just for the manager, not just for the players and not just for the supporters but also for Andrea Berta, a man who was right at the centre of the celebrations on Tuesday evening at Colney. A video of Declan Rice carrying the recruitment chief around was comedy gold and was just one of a number of iconic clips to emerge since the title was wrapped up.
Berta may well have only been at Arsenal for just over a year but he has already made his mark in the transfer window. Last summer was largely a success but he now has the task of trying to improve title winners. How do you do that? Your guess is as good as ours.
Arsenal looking at big-money Premier League star
One of Berta's biggest remits a year or so ago was to sign a new striker for the Gunners. He did that by welcoming Viktor Gyokeres to the club.
However, as was the case under Edu and the early years of Arteta's reign, he also raided the Premier League, bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze
Well, the top-flight could be raided again this summer. Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon are on the club's radar, as is Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. That said, all would cost a pretty penny.
The same could be said for Mateus Fernandes who has now been relegated with West Ham United.
Arsenal record signings Related
Arsenal's most expensive signings of all time
The Gunners have spent generously in recent years.
Reports a few weeks ago suggested that the Portuguese midfielder was a player Arsenal had taken an interest in but they face wide competition to lure him away from the London Stadium.
Indeed, it's alleged that he is dreaming of signing for Manchester United and linking up with compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
West Ham United's Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mateus Fernandes in action with AFC Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi and Amine Adli
The latest on the player's situation comes from the Daily Mail who reported on Sunday that United have already made an enquiry for the player but that Champions League finalists and PSG are also taking an interest.
Unfortuantely for those suitors, the Hammers are looking for a fee of £80m to let the 21-year-old leave.
Where Fernandes could fit into the Arsenal squad
There have been two main areas of debate this season in the Arsenal squad; on the flanks where the left wing has been an area of concern and in midfield.
The central areas have not been so much of a problem but there has been a clear overreliance on both Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.
Rice-Zubimendi-Arsenal
For three quarters of the season, they established a might fine connection in the middle of the park but as the campaign reached it's conclusion, the Spaniard has begun to struggle. It's hardly a surprise, truth be told. Only his midfield colleague has played more minutes of outfield players in Arteta's squad.
Zubimendi looked tired but first and foremost, his quality was deserting him. Luckily, Arteta made a tweak and in the process of handing Myles Lewis-Skelly an opportunity, it not just revived the teenager's season, but also changed the fortunes of the Gunners.
The Hale Ender immediately came into the team and looked a million dollars from midfield. It was the position he learned his trade in at academy level but prior to the 3-0 win over Fulham, had never started from that role in the senior team.
Well, he looks right at home there and hasn't looked back since that victory against Marco Silva's men, playing 90 minutes against West Ham and starting on the final day against Crystal Palace. He even started the semi-final second leg of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
Lewis-Skelly vs Atleti
Minutes played
Touches
Accurate passes
Key passes
Shots
Fouled
Carries
Progressive carries
Ground duels won
Aerial duels won
Dribbled past
For much of this season Arsenal have been crying out for an additional option in midfield and Lewis-Skelly has presented them with that. Yet, if they were to sign another midfielder, notably Fernandes, it would be particularly bad news for the youngster.
Why? Well, while they do possess different qualities, the West Ham man is particularly progressive. In fact, he's already been compared to Rice and that's not just because he plays for the Irons; it's because he has a very similar toolkit.
Indeed, the two best 'ground eaters' in the Premier League during the 2025/26 campaign are Rice and Fernandes. No other midfielders have a higher ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry. Confused by what that might mean? Well, it's essentially defined by how much forward ground a player gains via dribbling before losing the ball.
Lewis-Skelly is particularly good in that regard. He navigates his way past a player with ease, holds onto the ball exceptionally well and progresses play brilliantly. On that evidence, supporters may well question the need for Fernandes.
Mateus-Fernandes-West-Ham
Yet, he has been one of the best young players in the Premier League this term. Compared to U21 midfielders in Europe's top seven leagues, he ranks first for possession won, defensive duels won and interceptions. He's also second for progressive passes completed.
This is an elite talent in the making, a "superstar" already in the words of football writer Joost van der Leij. £80m is a lot to spend on someone who not be be a guaranteed started but with the problems Arsenal have discovered with Zubimendi in midfield in the last few months, signing competition makes a lot of sense.
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[Another Eze: Arsenal in talks to sign "one of the best CMs in the world"](https://www.footballfancast.com/new-eze-arsenal-in-talks-to-sign-newcastle-star-sandro-tonali/ "Another Eze: Arsenal in talks to sign "one of the best CMs in the world"")
Arsenal are looking to repeat the deal that brought Eze to the Emirates this summer.