The Champions League final defeat on Saturday evening was a gut-wrenching defeat for Arsenal but they will and have not let it define them.
Less than 24 hours after that defeat in Budapest, the playing and coaching staff were greeted by the best part of one million supporters on the streets of north London to celebrate a 14th top-flight title and their first Premier League success in 22 years. It was an almighty party.
Rice-Madueke-Saliba-Rice-Arsenal-parade
Yet, Mikel Arteta and Josh Kroenke know they cannot afford to stay still. Now is the time to strengthen the squad and really go for it while they are on top.
They have the funds, they have the pulling power, they have the appeal and they have one of the greatest fanbases in the country. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?
So, what's on the agenda in the transfer window?
Arsenal size up move to sign "the next Mbappe"
If you thought last summer was big then this summer would be another mega one for the Gunners as they go about strengthening a title-winning squad.
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Speaking after the full-time whistle in Hungary at the weekend, David Ornstein confirmed that they "could exceed the spending of a year ago" while noting that this summer may be the year "they go for it" with regards to signing a new winger.
In that department, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers would appear to be the top target. Talks with his representatives are already underway according to reports last week.
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Yet, valued as highly as £100m by those at Villa Park, this could be a very challening deal to get over the line.
As it happens, Rogers is not the only attacker on Arsenal's radar. According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi is a player they rate particularly highly.
Morgan-Rogers-Aston-Villa-Europa-League
Taking to his YouTube channel on Monday evening, Romano said: "The big gem on the market; Kroupi. Bournemouth would love to keep the player but after a fantastic season, several top clubs have started calling. In the Premier League, I can tell you Arsenal and Manchester City have called."
Romano continued: "But, PSG are also in the mix. They had some contact and took some information on the player. They really appreciate him and have a very good connection with his agents."
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It's been previously reported that if the Cherries forward is to leave, it will take £80m or more.
Why Kroupi could be a dream for Bukayo Saka
Despite lifting the Premier League title, this was a troubled season for their star boy, Bukayo Saka.
The winger endured a consecutive injury-hit season and as a consequence, struggled to build up much momentum or rhythm. Saka did improve in the back end of the season, notably scoring against Fulham and Atletico Madrid. Yet, as his performance in the Champions League final demonstrated, he's not hit the dizzy heights we've previously seen from him.
Arsenal-Premier-League-Bukayo-Saka
There are several reasons for that, not least injury problems and a slight lack of explosiveness to his game but also the striker position at Arsenal.
For much of the ongoing campaign, Saka and indeed Arsenal have not truly had a consistent centre forward. That feels remarkable to say considering that Viktor Gyokeres ended 2025/26 with 21 goals to his name.
Yet, his link up and hold up play was hardly very good. What they need is a hybrid of Kai Havertz and Gyokeres, someone who can not just score goals but also combine with teammates. They want the pull package. That's a rare commodity, sure, but signing Kroupi could help Saka get back to his best.
Why? Well, the simple fact of the matter is that he's more efficient in front of goal than both Gyokeres and Havertz while his expectred threat in the build-up phases of play is second to very few in European football.
Kroupi vs Gyokeres & Havertz: 2025/26 PL
Stat (per 90 mins)
Non-penalty goals
Shots
Conversion rate
Successful dribbles
xT buildup
There are two metrics that really stand out here. While the young Frenchman has scored a higher number of non-penalty goals, his conversion rate and xT in the build-up is better.
Expected Threat (xT) is a metric that quantifies how much a player's actions (like a pass or carry) increase their team's probability of scoring.
Why is the latter important? Well, essentially it defines how effective a player is when it comes to bringing others into play. This statistic is hardly a surprise considering Kroupi played a lot of his football as something of a second striker this term behind Evanilson in Andoni Iraola's forward line. That ability to combine and link up with teammates could be just what Saka is after.
This season, his relationship on the pitch was not the greatest when operating alongside Gyokeres, so the arrival of Kroupi could completely change the game.
Also capable of playing as an out and out striker, the 19-year-old sensation nettted 13 times this season. It was the highest number of goals a teenager has ever scored during their debut campaign in the Premier League.
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He's a ridiculous talent and comparisons have already been made to one of the greatest to ever do it. GOAL heralded him as "the next Mbappe" a few years ago and he's certainly doing a good job of living up to that billing. Joining an elite club such as Arsenal could well see him explode, just as France's poster boy did at PSG.
This would be an exceptional signing for Arsenal, not least because he scored that goal against Manchester City but because he's a mighty fine young player.
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Bukayo Saka could be joined in Arsenal's attack by one of the best forwards in the game.