4 tasks Andrea Berta must complete at start of Arsenal role

The appointment of Edu Gaspar's full-time successor has to be regarded as one of the most important decisions in Arsenal's modern history.

Edu had done a fine job of working with Mikel Arteta and helping shift a toxic culture at Arsenal into a winning one. Silverware is yet to emerge as a by-product to the Gunners' recent success, but the club has regained its status as one of the continent's premier institutions after a period of bleak, direction-less mediocrity.

We've reached a critical juncture in the project, especially with 2024/25 currently on track to be one of regression on-field. However, mitigating factors have worked against the Gunners this term, and the club has every chance of resurging again under this manager next season and beyond.

The stage we're at with Arteta heaped the pressure on hierarchical decision-makers to nail the sporting director appointment. Interim Jason Ayto was believed to be among the leading contenders to take the job full-time, but Arsenal have instead opted for a veteran of the craft.

Italian Andrea Berta is the new man at the helm in north London, and here are four tasks he must aim to complete in the first few months of his tenure.

1. Contract extensions for project cornerstones

Arsenal don't need to panic yet, but Berta would be wise to bring some of the project's cornerstones to the negotiating table soon.

We don't want a similar situation to play out in north London as it has done at Liverpool this season, with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all running down their contracts with plenty of ambiguity.

I'm not overly fussed about the urgency in which Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all dealt with. Their contracts expire in 2026. The following year's the big one.

William Saliba, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli's deals expire in 2027. Time is on the Gunners' side, but wouldn't it be nice if extensions were agreed nice and early so we didn't have to worry? Edu was pretty good at this, and I hope Berta is similarly proactive.

2. Rejuvenate Arsenal's midfield

Much of Berta's early work in north London will focus on the upcoming summer transfer window.

This is a pivotal period for the club, who must set themsleves up for the best chance of success in 2025/26 after a couple of disappointing windows, which ultimately left the manager short.

We all know where the priority lies, but Arsenal also require midfield rejuvenation. With Thomas Partey and Jorginho expected to walk in June, the Gunners need two midfield additions.

Once again, the profiles targeted will depend on what Arteta wants to do with Declan Rice: #8 or #6? He's leaned towards the former for much of 2024/25.

There were tenuous links to Joshua Kimmich, but Martin Zubimendi is the current priority - even if their deal risks being hijacked by Real Madrid. At this stage, there haven't been too many links, and I wouldn't be against another creator joining the club once a new lynchpin signs.

3. Check Mikel Arteta's power

Arteta has earned the right to emerge as the dominant voice in the way things operate on the football side at Arsenal, but there have been a few grumblings suggesting that the boss may be veering into the realm of a dictator.


After Edu departed, Arsenal risked being seized by the Spaniard, but the appointment of Berta, who successfully worked with Diego Simeone for a decade, means Arteta won't be put in his place as such, but his power will be checked.

Jurgen Klopp struggled with greater responsibility after the initial departure of recruitment wiz Michael Edwards, eventually burning out before Edwards made his comeback. Berta should function as the ideal foil for Arteta, ensuring the Spaniard doesn't take on too much responsibility, and we can only hope the pair strike up a similar dynamic to what Edu was able to build with the manager in the first few years of the job.

While Arteta, of course, must have a say on who comes in and who goes, there should be multiple voices dictating the club's recruitment plans, and Berta will function as a key decision-maker.

4. SIGN THE NUMBER NINE

This is priority number one for Berta. The Italian director has plenty of experience in negotiating moves for big-money strikers, and he'll have to work his magic again this summer.

The likes of Julian Alvarez, Luis Suarez, Joao Felix, Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay, and Matheus Cunha joined Atetico Madrid under Berta's watch. The director certainly isn't averse to a risk when it comes to signing big-name number nines.

Given what they've produced in the final third this season, Arsenal require an attacking revolution. They need players across the board, but life would be a whole lot easier if the club brought in a prolific goalscorer to lead the line. Superior talent is required, and Alexander Isak is the utopia. We're all hoping Newcastle avoid competing in next season's Champions League.

It'll cost the club's summer budget, but the striker's form since arriving on Tyneside suggests the reported fee would be well worth the risk. Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, and Hugo Ekitike are also on the table.

Entering the summer, though, Arsenal's attitude has to be Isak or bust.

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