Arsenal: 5 summer transfer goals and current targets

With 13 matches left of the season to play, fans are starting to look ahead. So too is the club. Arsenal have Champions League football in their sights along with the players they want guide them through it.

Winning eight of the previous ten matches has put Mikel Arteta’s side in a strong position to return to a competition that hasn’t graced the Emirates turf since 2017. Their last taste of Europe’s elite came on March 7 of that year, a 5-1 home defeat to Bayern Munch to wrap up a 10-2 aggregate loss in the round of 16.

So much still stands in their way. With their thin squad there are some injuries that could derail their goals, while the inconsistencies that come with having such a young group may well be felt before May 22.

Right now consistency is, however, Arsenal’s strength. While their rivals are dropping points at (in)opportune moments, the Gunners have secured 25 points from the previous 30 available and sit in the top four with games in hand on all of the chasing pack.

Arsenal: The 5 summer transfers goals for Edu and Mikel Arteta as well as their current targets to fill those five positions

Beating Watford 3-2 with some dazzling attacking play, the gaps, if you will, in the starting lineup remain clear and are there to be filled.

It’s no secret that centre-forward and midfield are high on the list of priorities for the summer. Securing a top four berth not only boosts the transfer kitty, it also widens the net Arsenal can cast across Europe to secure the finest talent.

But with a squad of only 20 senior players, if this team is to return to European competition of any kind it will need depth across the team.

As per the Evening Standard, and reported elsewhere in the UK media, Arteta and co are preparing for no fewer than five positions to be bolstered over the coming transfer period, with the club also boasting current targets for those very slots as their summer goals are laid out.

Here they are.

1. Two Strikers

Known targets: Alexander Isak, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jonathan David, Darwin Nunez, Armando Broja

Expected departures: Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette, Folarin Balogun (another loan)

With nine goal involvements in his last ten Premier League outings, what Alexandre Lacazette is producing has been integral to the Gunners’ fine form across the winter period.

It may be that the Frenchman doesn’t score another goal for the rest of the campaign and Arsenal still secure top four. That’s a remarkable concept to ponder, with the No. 9 in any team someone who has to chip in himself, but the assists and the platform he provides for others is, at present, helping put points on the board.

Nonetheless, he and Eddie Nketiah are still due to depart in the summer when their respective contracts expire.

Still in need of another loan move to further his development, Folarin Balogun won’t be the solution at the top. Therefore, two strikers are on the agenda for Arsenal. Having yet to sign one during his time at the club, it’s exciting to see who Arteta goes for.

The trio of Isak, Calvert-Lewin and David remain on the list, with Benfica’s bruising striker Darwin Nunez joining them alongside Chelsea’s academy product Armando Broja.

It’s ‘unlikely’ that the Blues will do business over Broja when his loan at Southampton runs out, while Nunez was the subject of a failed £40m bid from West Ham in January. The Uruguayan has been in sparkling form this season, netting 25 goals in 31 Primeira Liga and Champions League outings.

One of the elite calibre and one to develop seems the likely course of action.

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2. Midfield

Known targets: Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans, Ruben Neves, Danilo, Carney Chukwuemeka

Expected departures: Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Mohamed Elneny, Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka (potential)

This is one of the most interesting areas to look at for the summer, as the developments in the Arsenal system have narrowed down the profile of player the Gunners will need.

Thomas Partey is the lone No. 6 and Sambi Lokonga appears to be his heir, while Granit Xhaka has taken up an unorthodox left-sided No. 8 position. That’s the area in need of bolstering/upgrading, which is why some of the transfer targets raise question marks.

Luiz and Neves both operate much deeper and would seem unsuited to the role. Tielemans does play as a box-to-box midfielder for Leicester, yet he is fielded solely on the right side of central midfield, the areas that Odegaard picks up. Nonetheless, Luiz and Tielemans would both be available on the cheap with no contract extensions expected on their respective deals running out in 2023.

Danilo is someone who has been heavily linked to Arsenal in the Brazilian press, so it’s nice to see him mentioned on these shores to give some credence to the rumours. Aston Villa youngster  Chukwuemeka has also entered the discussion, an exciting midfielder who has captained the England Under-19 side.

Both the latter two are younger options, which hints that Arsenal may be in the market for two midfielders in the summer on account of the expected departures.

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3. Winger

Known targets: N/A

Expected departures: Reiss Nelson, Nicolas Pepe (potential)

Moving back up the pitch, but of not as high priority as either striker or midfielder, is a new winger.

This is a position that should be given more attention than it deserves, as history tells us that Nicolas Pepe is not the reliable figure in attack that he should be. Two impressive cameos off the bench against Brentford and Wolves shouldn’t pull the wool over some very fed up eyes.

If he can maintain such standards then it’s excellent news, not only in achieving this season’s goals, but also in garnering a modest fee for him in the summer.

What Arsenal require is someone to help Bukayo Saka. Rather urgently. With hopeful European football next season, the squad needs a tactically astute and pacey wide option who can play on both sides and take some of the burden off his 20-year-old shoulders. Of course, if Pepe doesn’t leave, then this part of the pitch is fairly well stocked.

In terms of targets there aren’t many being mentioned, if any at all. Dejan Kulusevski was someone Arsenal contacted Juventus over the winter with an eye on a loan deal, although Spurs’ promise of regular football and more concrete clauses included over making the move permanent saw them seal the deal.

A lot will depend on Pepe’s future. He will have two years left to run on his deal at the end of the season and if a suitable offer comes in (wishful) a sale will surely be considered.

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4. Right-Back

Known targets: Djed Spence

Expected departures: Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares (potential)

Cedric, to his credit, has come into the side in place of the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu and diligently gone about his duties over the previous four Premier League matches.

The drop off from when his teammate is in the team remains vast, however.

Tomiyasu not only stabilises the team, he also brings variance in build-up, security in the air, has fewer brain farts, and brings a balance that aids the left side. Saka and Odegaard can conjure up magic on the right but without Kieran Tierney charging down the left side there is less penetration from the opposing flank. The Scot hasn’t looked as assured lately operating as more orthodox left-back.

Whether Cedric will move on or not, the club is looking into the signing of a new right-back to provide competition for Tomiyasu, someone ideally younger and with sell-on value to complement the recruitment strategy.

Djed Spence remains a target, although there is fierce competition from Germany and Tottenham, with the latter of those adopting a wing-back system more suited to his profile. Other than that, there are no other concrete links.

As with some positions, it depends on who departs.

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5. Left-Sided Centre-Back

Known targets: N/A

Expected departures: Pablo Mari, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Rob Holding (potential), William Saliba (potential)

Given the specificity of a left-sided centre-back, it reaffirms and already established idea that Pablo Mari will be leaving permanently at the end of the season. There wasn’t much, if any, doubt about that, mind you.

This season we’ve seen Rob Holding fill in when Gabriel has been unavailable, while Benjamin White has been an ever present in almost every game of every competition on the right of central defence.

William Saliba is due to return from his loan spell at Marseille – where he’s been outstanding and clocked up more minutes than any other Under-21 centre-back in Europe – and the aim is to hand the Frenchman a new contract.

There are many variables to consider in this, as unless he plays on the left of central defence there is no way he’s getting into the starting lineup over White. But, then again, if Arsenal are eyeing someone for that position then it’s going to be a squad role for Saliba. Would he like that? Hard to know exactly, but with two years left on his deal at the end of the season it’s either re-sign or sell.

The fact Arsenal are in the market for one does suggest, however, that one of Holding or Saliba could be on the move.