Who the Gunners are looking to sign this summer

Arsenal’s improvement under Mikel Arteta is undeniable. but now they must figure out how to make the final leap.

The Gunners recorded their highest Premier League points tally since the Invincibles campaign of 2003/04 last season having enjoyed a 25-point hike in 2022/23 from the campaign prior. Arsenal’s evolution has been pretty remarkable, with the club’s recruitment playing a key role in their rise under the Spaniard.

Edu and Arteta’s work on the transfer front has got Arsenal into a position where they can compete fiercely with Manchester City, but there’s still work to be done if they’re to usurp them in 2024/25 – potentially Pep Guardiola’s final season in the Premier League.

The Gunners’ squad is strong and Arteta was reliant on a select few down the stretch last season, but there are areas to build upon and bolster.

Striker was the overwhelming priority in the winter window, but Arsenal’s financial constraints meant their hands were tied.

Fortunately, Kai Havertz emerged during the second half of the season as a legitimate option up top for Arteta, with the German’s productive run of form begging the question of whether the Gunners’ summer priorities had shifted.

However, Arsenal are still expected to acquire a number nine ahead of the 2024/25 season, but Havertz’s ability to lead the line superbly means the Gunners don’t necessarily need the finished product. They could sign a forward with room to develop and grow.

In addition, the club are set to spend big in midfield, although the exact profile they’re after isn’t yet clear. Arteta will want a multi-faceted option, but their priority target will depend on whether they view Declan Rice as their long-term six or eight.

Cover will be required behind David Raya if Aaron Ramsdale departs as expected, while Bukayo Saka still needs stronger competition. A move for a left-sided defender was explored in January, and Arsenal will likely revisit that possibility this summer despite Jurrien Timber’s return from a long-term injury.

Arsenal have been linked with an array of forwards, but it seems as if 21-year-old Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko is their guy.

He’s the project striker Arteta desires and Arsenal are hopeful of wrapping up a deal before the start of the Euros. Sesko’s release clause at RB…