Arsenal are expected to spend big during this summer transfer window as they target multiple positions. Mikel Arteta has expressed his desire to add three key things to his team which will come in the form of several additions.
"Well, what we have, what is clear as well with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line, that we need a goal threat and we need the firepower out there," Arteta said ahead of the Southampton match. "Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, you know, and we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before.
"And we have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions."
This means investment, and that is also expected. Co-chairman Josh Kroenke publicly promised this, writing in the programme notes before the last home match of the season that spending was indeed on the agenda.
"We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season," he wrote. This should give encouragement but it also adds further expectation on the team.
Andrea Berta has come in and as Mikel Arteta predicted, he is having an impact on the established plans and those meetings take place even up until the present day. The volatility of the transfer window means things shift daily.
The back-up goalkeeper position, however, is where we could see a significant change in the approach and in the end, save the Gunners some money to be spent elsewhere. Joan Garcia was a player very much liked last summer and it could have happened.
Fast forward a year and the situation has changed, as it does. The Spaniard's form has only improved and has been noticed by a host of top clubs, willing to offer a starting place rather than the number two slot in north London.
The €25million (£21million) release clause is likely to be activated by a club this summer, but Arsenal, even if they did, might struggle to convince Garcia now that a second spot is where his immediate future lies. With that in mind, Andrea Berta could have other plans for the position.
Karl Hein is returning from loan and could be David Raya's backup option next season. Or, like the campaign just gone, Arsenal may choose to have an experienced option in the back like Neto, who joined from Bournemouth on loan.
It could be a combination of the two. Manchester City and Manchester United have had both Scott Carson and Tom Heaton as third choices respectively for experience and dressing room presence, as well as emergency cover. It would save Arsenal money and potentially see it redirected into other more urgent positions that require investment.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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