Mikel Arteta makes ‘excited’ claim about Arsenal transfer window plans | Football
Mikel Arteta has hinted Arsenal are primed to invest heavily this summer and make significant additions to his squad in the transfer window.
The Gunners appear destined to finish the season as runners-up for a third year in a row having failed to keep pace with runaway leaders Liverpool.
A win against Fulham tonight would reduce the gap to nine points ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield, but even the most positive of optimists would concede the title is a foregone conclusion.
With that in mind it is, perhaps, understandable that some minds have already begun to drift towards the summer, particularly given last weekend’s confirmation of Andrea Berta’s appointment as Sporting Director.
Arsenal kept their powder dry in January, with many of their top targets unattainable, and opted against making any new signings.
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Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury rendered that decision a huge error, but it will at least mean Arteta is armed with a warchest this summer that should allow him to plug the gaps in a squad that has come tantalisingly within reach of the trophies he and his fanbase craves.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s game against the Cottagers, Arteta outlined his priorities for the close season and said: ‘First of all we need to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase certain quality and skills that we need to now go to the next step.
Predicting who Arsenal will sign this summer
Goalkeeper: With Neto’s loan move unlikely to be turned into a permanent deal, Arsenal will undoubtedly look to sign a new No.2 to provide David Raya with more competition than he has faced this season. Teenagers Jack Porter and Tommy Setford are highly regarded but are not yet ready for a major promotion which goes some way to explaining Mikel Arteta’s interest in Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.
Defenders: Arsenal fans won’t want to hear it, but with Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior all likely to depart, a new left-sided defender will be a requirement, especially given the fitness travails of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori.
Midfield: Nearly two years on from Granit Xhaka’s departure, Arsenal’s engine room still lacks the sort of balance they had in abundance when the Switzerland international was paired alongside Thomas Partey. Arsenal spent £160 million on Declan Rice and Kai Havertz but the experiment of deploying the former Chelsea man in midfield was ditched long ago. Arteta still appears to believe Rice can thrive in a more advanced role and the arrival of Martin Zubimendi, whose move to north London appears to be a matter of when, rather than if, could finally complete the puzzle.
Forwards: Attacking reinforcements have been in short supply over the last couple of years and an overreliance on Bukayo Saka yielded the sort of injury many feared had been in the post for a while. A new winger, ideally one comfortable on both flanks, should represent a priority. Nico Williams is a long-term target while at centre forward Victor Gyokeres appears the most attainable and ready made solution to the No.9 conundrum that has existed throughout Arteta’s reign.
James Goldman | Metro Sports Editor
‘It is going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.
‘I said as well that the last five were big. So every summer is big because it’s an opportunity.
‘It’s a big summer for many things because first of all you have to maintain all the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team.’
Arsenal’s immediate focus will, however, centre on beating opponents who have provided stubborn resistance against them of late and haven’t lost any of their last three games against their London rivals.
Bukayo Saka’s likely return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for four months represents a welcome boost and Arteta insists he and the club’s medical team have done everything possible to ensure the England star has made a full recovery.
‘Bukayo is ready to go,’ Arteta said. ‘It’s another massive weapon with him. It is a massive boost for him and the team to have him come in at the most important part of the season.
‘We know his impact [and] how important his role and contribution is to success.’
‘There is not a single player in the squad that has produced the numbers of Bukayo in the past three seasons — that’s it.
‘We have remained very competitive without him and many other players. That’s a big credit.’
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Mikel Arteta makes ‘excited’ claim about Arsenal transfer window plans | Football
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