Summary Arsenal need to build a more competitive squad after injuries and suspensions last season. The Gunners have signed more goalkeepers than wingers and strikers since Arteta’s arrival. Arteta’s key issue this summer is fixing the club’s attack
It’s safe to say that Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar’s squad building at Arsenal hasn’t been the greatest.
Yes, the Gunners have been able to put together a starting XI capable of challenging for both the Premier League and Champions League.
Yet, amid injuries and suspensions last season, they struggled to maintain their form post-Christmas.
While the semi-finals of the Champions League were reached, their domestic form took a turn for the worse, ultimately finishing ten points behind Liverpool in their quest for the title.
To rubberstamp Arsenal’s at times puzzling strategy in the transfer window, they have signed six players from Chelsea in the last seven years, the latest of which saw Kepa Arrizabalaga arrive as David Raya’s back-up in a £5m move.
Incredibly, the north Londoners have now also signed more goalkeepers since Arteta’s arrival than wingers and strikers.
So, it’s clear they need to do better in the ongoing market and what better way to do so than by handing the manager a wealth of new forwards.
Here’s what Arsenal’s dream squad could look like if everything goes according to plan this summer.
The goalkeepers Raya vying for the Golden Glove again
Having won the Golden Glove in consecutive years, Raya is the undisputed number one at Arsenal now.
His arrival back in 2023 was undoubtedly a strange one. Arteta claimed that he had two number 1s and that Raya and Aaron Ramsdale would battle it out.
Sadly for the latter, he was rather cast aside by the Spaniard, eventually sold last summer to Southampton, who became one of the worst Premier League sides in history.
Neto came in as backup, but after playing just one game while on loan, he has departed Colney and has now been replaced by the aforementioned Kepa.
Alex Runarsson
£1.5m
Mat Ryan
Loan
Aaron Ramsdale
£30m
Matt Turner
£5.5m
David Raya
£27m
Neto
Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga
£5m
Signed from Chelsea, the Spaniard enjoyed a pretty decent time of it on loan at Bournemouth last season and his error-ridden days appear to be behind him. Now 30 years of age, he’ll provide strong competition for Raya.
Full list of goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Karl Hein.
The defence New centre-back signs to compete with Gabriel & Saliba
Undoubtedly, the strongest point of this Arsenal team in the last two years has been their defensive record. No side has shipped fewer goals than Arteta’s men in 2023/24 (29) and 2024/25 (34).
Any success this team have next season will be built on strong foundations again and with Gabriel Magalhaes having already signed new terms in recent months, Arsenal will be hoping they can swap William Saliba away from the jaws of Real Madrid by tying him down too.
Gabriel’s stand-in, Jakub Kiwior, has been linked with a move away, but having stood out during the Brazilian’s absence through injury, deserves his place in this squad now. He could be joined, however, by young Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera. The 20-year-old “wants” Arsenal in the words of Fabrizio Romano and a deal could be done for a cheap fee of £17m.
At full-back, while Jorrel Hato of Ajax has been touted with a switch, it’s unlikely that move goes through if Mosquera arrives.
As a result, despite Kieran Tierney’s exit and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s likely departure, the right and left side of defence will have a familiar ring to it. Expect Myles Lewis-Skelly to dazzle again after being rewarded with a new contract. Here’s hoping Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori can stay fit too.
Full list of centre-backs: William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior.
Full list of right-backs: Jurrien Timber, Ben White.
Full list of left-backs: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori.
The midfielders Two new signings arrive
There could be big changes in the middle of the park this summer with the Gunners moving quickly to fill gaps in the squad.
Martin Zubimendi is due to arrive from Real Sociedad for just over £50m, having been billed by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente as “one of the best midfielders in the world”.
Vying for a spot as the holding midfielder will be Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. A surprise transfer is in the works for the Dane to come to Arsenal for £10m and he is likely to play second fiddle to Zubimendi.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Elsewhere, Arsenal do lack genuine depth for Martin Odegaard but a sliver of minutes could be handed to Max Dowman, the current poster boy for the Hale End academy.
Declan Rice will be the standout option as the left 8 but expect Mikel Merino to continue impressing after his strong end to the 2024/25 campaign.
Full list of midfielders: Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Max Dowman.
The forwards A big improvement for Arteta
Here we go, then. Just what can Arsenal do to bolster their tame forward line this summer? The fanbase are expecting that a shiny new centre-forward arrives but before we get there, let’s evaluate options out wide.
The Gunners have long needed cover for star boy Bukayo Saka on the right wing but the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri last season is set to save them a bucket load of cash on finding a deputy.
Nwaneri is one of the finest young talents in the game and will be ready to make a splash again after scoring nine goals in his 37 first-team outings.
The left-hand side is where big improvements are required. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are decent options but after scoring ten goals apiece last season, failing to really stand up when the likes of Saka and Kai Havertz were injured, Arteta needs to be ruthless.
Arsenal have been linked with several wide forwards, notably the likes of Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers but we expect Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Crystal Palace superstar Eberechi Eze to arrive.
The club have flirted with making a move for Rodrygo this summer and it’s reported that positive talks have been held. Yet, with a possible £85m fee lined up, it’s not an easy deal to do. Still, the Brazilian should be pushing for a move having played just 88 minutes at the Club World Cup so far. He’s clearly not in new manager Xabi Alonso’s plans.
David Ornstein has reported that Arsenal’s pursuit of Eze is separate from their chase of a winger and if they could get both deals over the line here, it would significantly improve their forward line. Once rejected by the Hale End academy at 13, the Eagles star has dreamed of playing for the first team and that could become a reality in 2025/26 if his £68m release clause is activated .
Games
40
31
43
Goals
10
11
14
Assists
4
6
11
Mins played
2,686
2,285
3,303
At long last, we come to the striker position. This is where Arsenal need to improve big time and failing to get a new centre-forward in this summer would be a disaster.
Viktor Gyokeres, the scorer of 54 goals in 52 games last season, remains a key option and reports this week have suggested he’s already agreed a five-year deal to sign. Still, there remains a gap in what Arsenal are willing to pay and what Sporting want to receive.
A deal for Benjamin Sesko, billed as “the new Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, remains in the works and reports this week suggested that they are moving closer to an agreement with Leipzig on what could be a £64m fee.
While the Slovenian is not as prolific as Gyokeres, scoring 21 goals last term, he’s got an amazing profile that consists of pace, power, height and goalscoring. There are few better options out there and he could truly explode in Arsenal colours.
Full list of wingers: Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Rodrygo, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard.
Full list of strikers: Benjamin Sesko, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus.
£100m star & the "new Haaland" sign: Arsenal's dream summer
Andrea Berta is in for a big summer at Arsenal; here’s how it could play out.
ByMatt DawsonJun 29, 2025
