The Gunners have vowed to invest in the squad this summer after missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City
Although they once again ended up trophy-less, the 2023-24 campaign was another year of progress for Arsenal. For the fourth season running, they managed to better their Premier League points tally from the previous term and only narrowly missed out on top spot to Pep Guardiola's relentless winning machine at Manchester City.
The Gunners also returned to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in seven years, eventually being edged out by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. However, as Mikel Arteta boldly proclaimed on the Emirates turf after their final game of the season, the club will be demanding further improvement next campaign. "Don't be satisfied. We want much more than this and we're going to get it," he proclaimed.
In order to get to that next level, some fine tuning of the squad is required over the summer, with co-chairman Josh Kroenke suggesting there will be further investment in the playing staff now the season is over.
"I want to be clear that no one at the club will stand still. However things finish today, we’re all working behind the scenes to move us forward – always forward – again," he stated ahead of the Gunners' final game.
Arteta looks set to be handed a healthy budget to play with too. Not only have Arsenal got Champions League revenue to invest for the first time in ages, they also have several eminently sellable assets to further bolster the coffers. The Gunners might even end up eclipsing the £200m+ ($254m) spent last summer on the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
GettyProblem positions
Centre-forward has been an area that Arsenal fans have been particulary keen for the club to strengthen for some time. Admittedly, the clamour for this decreased in the second half of the season thanks to Havertz's excellent form up front and Arsenal rediscovering their killer touch in front of goal. However, despite the Gunners once again finishing as the Premier League's second-highest scorers, it's expected that Arteta will still target a striker this summer.
Perhaps the position of greatest need, though, is midfield. Once Thomas Partey was finally available in the final months of the campaign, he finished strongly, with his presence also freeing up Rice to have more influence higher up the pitch. But the Ghanaian's maddening fitness issues mean his status is uncertain heading into the summer. If Arteta wants to continue using Rice as a No.8, another deeper-lying midfielder is needed.
The Gunners could also do with some strength in depth in defence. Should one of William Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes get injured next season, their replacement would represent a significant downgrade at present. Left-back has been a tricky area at points this season too, while the goalkeeping situation is complex, and those areas may require some furnishing depending on how certain scenarios play out.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRumour mill
Ivan Toney emerged as an option in January, but that move seems unlikely now, both due to the Brentford striker's poor form and the finances of any potential deal. Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with Arsenal, too, with his 43-goal campaign attracting interest from a host of top clubs around Europe. More recently, Benjamin Sesko, no stranger to the transfer rumour mill, has been mentioned. The RB Leipzig centre-forward netted 18 times this season and is still just 20 years old. Victor Osimhen and Alexander Isak have been touted for moves to the Emirates at various points, too.
In defence, Arsenal will have watched on in frustration as Ajax wonderkid Jorrel Hato signed a new contract recently. It's understood that the agreement does not include a release clause either, meaning he will now cost a pretty penny. Another young centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, could be an alternative option. He currently plies his trade for Sporting CP.
Martin Zubimendi appears to be the club's primary midfield target, after starring for Real Sociedad over the past couple of seasons. The Gunners are also long-term admirers of Douglas Luiz, though Aston Villa's Champions League ascension will complicate this deal. Everton are looking to sell this summer, which might also lead Arsenal to take a look at the highly-rated Amadou Onana.
Concrete names in the goalkeeper and left-back positions have been harder to come by, but that's not to say that Arsenal won't be strengthening in these areas.
GettyIdeal signing
The Toffees are not the only Premier League side who require a major sale this summer. Newcastle also need to sell in order to buy this summer and it's expected that at least one big name will be moved on. With that in mind, Arsenal are understood to have contacted Bruno Guimaraes' representatives over a potential summer switch.
It's easy to see why Arteta would be so enamoured with the Brazilian. Guimaraes is one of the most potent midfield creators on the planet, with only eight players registering more progressive passes than him in Europe's big five leagues this season. He carries the ball from deep superbly, too, and is massively underrated defensively, fighting for every tackle and interception since his move to England back in January 2022.
He could either play where Rice finished the season, which would facilitate the England international's return as a single pivot, or even play the deepest role himself. Regardless, this injection of ball progression will complement main creator Martin Odegaard perfectly, while likely adding more balance to the midfield as a whole.
Having proved himself capable of dealing with the Premier League's physicality, signing Guimaraes would be a far safer bet for Arsenal compared with some of the other midfielders they've been tentatively linked with. The fact he has Champions League experience and has scarcely missed a game over the past couple of seasons only make this an even better fit.
Eddie Howe has insisted that it will take £100m ($127m) to prise Newcastle's star man away, though with transfer funds required at St James' Park, Arsenal might be able to knock a little bit off this eye-watering asking price.
GettyHeading for the exits
Mohamed Elneny has already confirmed he will be departing on a free transfer, with Cedric Soares and young goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo – who impressed on loan at Wrexham – likely to do the same.
There's a group of returning loan players whose futures are in serious doubt too. It's difficult to see Nuno Tavares sticking around after a tough spell with Nottingham Forest, though Albert Sambi Lokonga fared better at Luton Town. Whether the midfielder is deemed good enough for the first-team squad at the Emirates is another matter entirely.
Kieran Tierney has been making noises that he wants to leave permanently after a decent spell with Real Sociedad, while Charlie Patino's progress stalled while at Swansea City in the second half of the season. The midfielder's contract expires in 2025 too, with several clubs in Italy understood to be monitoring his situation.
Homegrown trio Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah are all getting too old to sit on the bench and may fancy a change of scenery, while the aforementioned Partey could join them out the exit door.
Twenty-year-old forward Marquinhos is currently on loan at Fluminense, with the Brazilian side possessing an option to make the switch permanent. Defender Omar Rekik is in a similar situation at Servette, though a major paperwork error means he's been unable to feature for the Swiss team so far.
Aaron Ramsdale is another player likely to depart. He is reportedly attracting interest from Newcastle and Chelsea having found himself deputising for David Raya – whose permanent transfer from Brentford is still to be 100 percent confirmed.