Arteta Puts Pressure On Arsenal Board To Deliver Summer Transfers

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, wants the club to improve the squad after finishing second in the Premier League again.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal‘s 1-0 win over Newcastle secured a Champions League spot and second place in the league. Arteta then spoke clearly about needing new players. After losing the title to Liverpool, he told reporters, “Finish the season, go to the beach, enjoy a few days and make sure the ones upstairs, they do what they have to do.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Fans expect Arsenal to improve the squad for next season. They’re currently second, close to Liverpool and ahead of Man City. Arsenal are looking at big signings like Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams. Players like Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyökeres, and Alexander Isak are also on the radar.

The team may lose several players. Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s contracts are expiring, and loan players Raheem Sterling and Neto will return to their clubs. Plus, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus are injured and may miss the start of next season.

WHAT ARTETA SAID ABOUT TRANSFERS

Arteta stressed the need for new players: “With the numbers that we started the season and the numbers to provide for next season, with the demands we’re going to have, and especially with the players that we have who are coming through long-term surgeries, it’s very unrealistic to deliver trophies.” He said Arsenal will lose players through contracts ending and loan returns, making the squad “really thin on top of the injuries.”

About the transfer budget, Arteta used a wedding analogy: “The budget is like when you have your wedding, you plan your wedding with your wife and you give her a budget and it’s never less, it’s always more.” This suggests he is warning the board about a large spending requirement this summer.

WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal’s final game is against Everton at home on May 25. The club is planning for an important transfer window under new sporting director Andrea Berta. They are also negotiating contracts with players like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Miles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri.

Preseason schedules will come out in June, and the new Premier League season begins on August 16. Arsenal hope to end their 22-year title drought, and this summer’s signings could determine if they achieve that or come close again.