Arsenal are making an effort to restructure and revitalize their squad ahead of an all-important 2025/2026 campaign, with Mikel Arteta under some pressure to deliver a trophy after five years without major silverware, discounting the Community Shield.
Mikel Arteta set for a vital season with Arsenal silverware expected
Arteta delivered the FA Cup at the end of his first campaign in charge, but since then, Arsenal have had precious little to shout about despite some very close calls.
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Everything is in place for a move to be finalised.
Arsenal registered an incredible 89 points during the 2023/2024 season, which would have been enough to win the Premier League title in many of the previous campaigns, but Man City's imperiousness ultimately thwarted Arteta.
It was a similar story during the 22/23 campaign, but Arsenal were miles off this year's eventual title winners Liverpool, having missed out on the domestic crown by a seismic 10 points.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
The Gunners have also failed to deliver in all other domestic and European cup competitions since 2020, with Arteta now facing a vital next season where he simply must deliver glory to the Emirates after many years of building an elite-level squad.
"There's no doubt next season the pressure will be on Arteta massively in terms of winning something and winning something big," said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
"If they don't do that, the Arsenal board will have a massive issue, because they won't want to change the manager, but there will be lots of people saying 'five or six years without a trophy' and they will be looking at how many managers can make that next step.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a lap of appreciation after the match
"The problem with changing Mikel Arteta is that Arsenal could easily become what Chelsea are now, a team finishing second year in, year out, to a team not getting into the Champions League.
"That's the big conundrum Arsenal will have in 12 months if they go close again but don't get over the line. It feels like next season has to be the season."
Trimming the deadwood and making room for vital new additions is imperative, and they've now managed to get previous highly-rated youngster Marquinhos off the books for good.
Arsenal confirm Marquinhos has joined Cruzeiro permanently
The 22-year-old Brazilian, according to Arteta, was actually a "very popular" player behind-the-scenes at London Colney, but he could never quite cement himself as a part of the manager's long-term plans on the field.
marquinhos-arsenal-premier-league
Marquinhos has been on loan at Brazilian side Cruzeiro since January, which included an obligation to buy based on certain conditions, and that now appears to have been triggered.
Arsenal announced on Monday that Marquinhos has joined Cruzeiro on a permanent deal, bringing an end to his three-year stay at N5, which initially brought so much promise, only for the forward to be deemed surplus.
“He’s very popular, with no English, just with his smile and attitude," said Arteta about Marquinhos in 2022.
"He has earned the respect and admiration of everybody here."
Marquinhos' move to Cruzeiro was initially under threat, according to some reports in South America, but he's now officially set to start a new chapter back in his homeland.