5 players Arsenal must sign in summer transfer window

Arsenal's prolonged Champions League run delayed talk of a summer overhaul, but now the Gunners have been left heartbroken, it's time to look towards the upcoming transfer window again.

The club supposedly recognised the need to add a X-factor star to Mikel Arteta's ranks in the wake of their continental exit at the hands of Bayern Munich last season. However, a convincing run of form during the run-in from Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard suggested that Raheem Sterling (on loan) was all that was needed to thrust the Gunners from contenders to conquerers.

That train of thought has since been proven wrong. Very wrong.

Thus, the club's lack of significant business over the past two windows means we're in a similar sort of situation compared to this time last year. Some would argue that Arteta's squad requires even more refinement if they're to best place themselves for 2025/26.

We know where our summer priorities lie, but Arsenal require investment all over the pitch. Martin Zubimendi is poised to arrive as part of the club's midfield reshuffle but there are five more players the club needs to sign ahead of next season.

1. Contingency plan in defence

Gabriel and William Saliba's contracts expire in 2027, and the club has already taken steps to extend the latter's deal. There's been talk of Real Madrid loitering, but Saliba has constantly asserted his desire to win in north London. Still, the allure of the Spanish capital is often too strong to ignore.

Tying down Saliba is one of Andrea Berta's primary tasks for the summer, and Gabriel will hopefully extend before the end of the year. While there's been interest from Saudi Arabia, the Brazilian boasts a similar mindset to his centre-back partner. He wants to win here.

Thus, I'm not expecting Arsenal to sign a replacement for one of these two. Not even a potential successor. However, there's bound to be plenty of movement in Arteta's backline. Kieran Tierney's re-joining Celtic, Oleksandr Zinchenko is on the chopping block, Jakub Kiwior could be sold for the right price, and Takehiro Tomiyasu has barely kicked a ball this season.

The Gunners are blessed with defenders who can play across the backline, but the potential sales on the left side of defence means there should be one addition. The pursuit of Dean Huijsen (who'd cost close to £50m) doesn't make all that much sense unless Saliba or Gabriel move on, but I'm bullish on a Jorrel Hato-like profile arriving this summer: A versatile left-footed option with plenty of upside.

2. Back-up goalkeeper

I mean, this one's pretty obvious. It might not excite you, but the addition of a backup goalkeeper is necessary.

Fortunately, David Raya has stayed fit throughout the entirety of the season, meaning we haven't been subject to Neto between the posts all that much. The Brazilian loanee has made just a single appearance for the club.

The club has youngsters to nurture, including Tommy Setford, who joined last summer, but the current teenage options are more likely to compete for third choice in the depth chart.

For me, there's only one solution on the backup front. Pay whatever Espanyol want for Joan Garcia before Barcelona and Real Madrid catch wind of his talent.

3. Transition monster

Arsenal could yet require a Thomas Partey alternative, but perhaps the club will be a little bit braver in terms of reshaping their midfield. With Martin Zubimendi joining to function at the base of midfield, there's scope for Arteta to target a more dynamic option in their bid to replace the Ghanaian.

Arsenal's need to improve in transition became clear during the 0-0 draw at Manchester City last season. The Gunners contained their hosts superbly, but lacked the requisite speed, power and ruthlessness to hurt the Cityzens on the counter-attack.

Arsenal simply lack the profiles. Declan Rice is the only legitimate 'space-eater', while Gabriel Martinelli offers speed but not much by way of reliable execution. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka are smart operators in open space but not deadly and don't even get me started on Martin Odegaard.

While Arteta's game model is predicated on suffocation and control, the Gunners still create multiple transition moments a game - whether that's regaining possession high up the pitch, or breaking from their own third. They need a profile who shines in such situations, think Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest this season or Morgan Rogers when he's given green grass to break into.

It'd open up a new realm for Arteta's team.

4. One-on-one master out wide

Speed out wide would help contribute to Arsenal's ability to efficiently counter-attack, but Arteta's game model isn't going to drastically shift next season.

The Gunners are still going to dominate games and aim to suffocate, leading to periods of sustained pressure in and around the opposition's box.

Arsenal don't need an upgrade down the right, but considering where the Gunners ought to be with Arteta at the helm, they could bolster their depth on the opposite flank. Martinelli has enjoyed bursts but nothing more this term after struggling last year, while Leandro Trossard remains handy and serviceable but shouldn't be relied upon to start games regularly in 2025/25.

The club's attacking reinvention involves the addition of at least one wide player this summer. I'd love to see a vintage one-on-one winger arrive at the Emirates. The sort that gets you on your feet every time they receive possession, with their variation and unpredictability rendering every sequence novel. We should've made a play at Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He's exactly what this Arsenal team needs.

There's only so much Arteta can do in the final third, and Arsenal's struggles in front of goal haven't solely been down to the absence of a number nine. Greater balance is required between their front three to take the burden off Saka, with Arsenal's new number nine hopefully benefitting from the addition of a left-winger who excels at creating separation in one-on-one situations to aid their ability to create from the byline or shoot when drifting infield.

5. For the love of God, a number nine

Arsenal's unwillingness to bolster their centre-forward position in recent windows means expectations will be sky-high for whomever the club picks as their chosen one this summer. Given the stage Arteta's project is at, the new sharpshooter must deliver right away.

The manager likes a physical profile who contributes heavily out of possession, can operate as a focal point, and dominate in the box. He wants a smart striker capable of contributing to the collective and perhaps holds reservations over signing a centre-forward who excels at putting the ball into the net but little else.

Benjamin Sesko is a big risk, Primeira Liga forwards scare me, while Alexander Isak looks unlikely to leave if Newcastle secure Champions League football. Victor Osimhen is my number-one choice, but Andrea Berta is bullish on Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede has scored unrelentingly for Sporting CP, and while I think he's unrefined, the chances Arsenal tend to work on a game-by-game basis means it's hard to imagine Gyokeres not performing to the requisite goal-scoring standard in north London.

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