Arsenal may experience a bustling transfer period this summer following their second-place finish in the Premier League.
Ultimately, the difference was only two points, but it might as well have been two hundred. Despite their commendable and consistent efforts, Arsenal couldn’t clinch the Premier League title.
Whether you look at their stumble against Aston Villa last month, the puzzling week between Christmas and New Year where they lost to West Ham and Fulham back-to-back, or any of the five draws they had this season, the result remains unchanged: Mikel Arteta’s team fell short once more.
Disappointment signals the probable need for a summer overhaul, or at least some adjustments and strengthening.
Despite recent progress, Arsenal still have deficiencies in a few crucial areas, making it likely that they will prioritize addressing these shortcomings in the upcoming weeks and months.
Arguably, the most glaring area requiring improvement is the forward position. Both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah don’t convey the image of a prolific center forward who can lead Arsenal to a title on their own. It’s evident that a top-tier striker could significantly narrow the gap with Manchester City.
Several players’ names have come up lately, but one that remains prominent is Viktor Gyokeres, the striker for Sporting CP. Despite being in Portugal for just a year, his performance has been outstanding, tallying 43 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches this season. Few strikers can match his current level of productivity.
His exceptional performance is evident in his £86 million release clause. However, if Arsenal are genuinely committed to acquiring a reliable and established goalscorer, they will need to make a significant investment regardless. With his combination of power, precision, and being on the brink of his prime, Gyokeres could indeed be the ideal choice for Arteta.
However, he wouldn’t be Arteta’s sole desired acquisition. Arsenal are also anticipated to strengthen their midfield this summer, though their choices in that area are not as clear-cut. Douglas Luiz has been a target for a while, but the chances of him departing Aston Villa have diminished significantly since Unai Emery’s team secured a spot in the Champions League next season.
Then there’s Martin Zubamendi, another often-mentioned name, but reports suggest he is content at Real Sociedad and ultimately aims to reunite with former manager Xabi Alonso in the relatively near future.
That could ultimately force Arsenal’s hand into a pursuit of Newcastle United talisman Bruno Guimaraes. By no means is that a bad thing, of course, especially given the impact that the Brazilian has had on the Premier League ever since arriving on Tyneside, but with the Magpies reportedly unwilling to entertain any offers lower than £80 million, he – like Gyokeres – would not come cheap.
However, the fact that Newcastle would contemplate a sale at all provides an unexpected opportunity, and as with the Swedish striker, pedigree always comes at a cost.
In essence, Arsenal needs to assess their current position, their goals, and decide how much they’re willing to invest to achieve them.
Spending £166 million on Gyokeres and Guimaraes could potentially transform them into Premier League champions, a proposition some believe is worth the cost.
