By Jack Beam
As the season approaches the finish line in the 2024/25 Premier League, Arsenal are once more entangled in a fight for laurels. Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has shown glimpses of greatness, challenging for the top prizes at home and on the continent. However, questions are still raised over stability in the squad, ruthlessness in the box, and resilience at the back. With the summer transfer window ahead, the attention switches to how Arsenal can make the enormous leap forward in their ranks and finally move outside the “nearly there” story.
The Gunners have developed a sparkling framework, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Martin Ødegaard providing the spine of a squad that is once more respected all over the continent. And if Arsenal is to make that all-important leap from challengers to champions, as they clearly can, then some shrewd investment will be required—smart signings rather than flashy ones.
For instance, Kinghills casino has experienced the same metamorphosis in its industry, with updates improving the users’ experience without interfering with the essence of the platform. Arsenal will need to approach this summer on the same lines: calculated, confident, and championship-minded.
A Clinical Forward to Finish the Job
While there may have been creativity and tempo to it, finishing has often let Arsenal down when it has mattered. Despite being dynamic and tireless, Gabriel Jesus has been hit by injuries and inconsistency. Eddie Nketiah still has to prove himself at the top. To compete with the rest of Europe’s “elites”, Arsenal requires an actual goalscoring number nine -someone who can bury opportunities brutally.
Mentions of Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting CP and Benjamin Šeško of RB Leipzig are appearing as logical prey. Gyökeres, in particular, has been excellent in Portugal this season and married physicality with incisive movement and composure in front of the goal. While Šeško has a more long-term project, he is young, explosive, and has enormous potential. Either of the strikers would give Arsenal the cutting edge they have been missing in important matches.
Look for a player who can fill Arteta’s tactical model—aggressive pressing, seamless flow in linking play, and successful transition. If they are to push on from near misses to triumph, a marquee striker may make all the difference.
Reinforcements in Defense: Depth and Durability
Arsenal’s defence has been strong when at its strongest, but injuries regularly expose the lack of depth. The arrival of Jurrien Timber is a massive reinforcement, but acquiring another flexible defender is another item at the top of Edu’s agenda.
According to reports, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, the Fenerbahçe man of all the backline positions, has come to the notice of Arsenal. His agility, defensive intelligence, and attacking support might make him a great rotational player. Similarly, Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is 18 years old but considered one of Europe’s brightest defensive prospects. He has maturity beyond his tender years and would slot effortlessly into Arsenal’s possession-obsessed system.
Defensive stability is the basis of title-winning teams. A high-potential player and a versatile defender are the perfect cure to ensure Arsenal aren’t short when the fixture list becomes a nightmare.
A Midfield Engine to Go Along with Rice
Declan Rice has proved to be a transformative signing. His athleticism, leadership, and defensive prowess have improved Arsenal’s midfield. However, to be consistent in all games, Arteta has to have someone alongside him—one man who can dictate tempo, withstand pressure, and recycle possession effectively.
Arsenal have been chasing Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi for many transfer windows, and reports suggest a deal is pretty much done. A skilled defensive midfielder with a terrific passing range, Zubimendi may be the perfect pivot with Rice or fill in when rotation is required. João Neves of Benfica, on the other hand, despite his youth, has demonstrated an element of maturity and bite in the middle of the park that is beyond his years.
Incorporating a midfield companion able to exploit Rice’s strengths and replace Ødegaard so that he can advance further up the pitch would open plans for new tactical manoeuvring. It is about putting together a midfield capable of coping with any given opponent—for a “gritty” Premier League encounter or in the semi-final of the Champions League.
Creativity in Depth and Diversity in Attack
Although Arsenal’s front four is strong, the loss of creativity when Ødegaard or Saka is unavailable is significant. The addition of a player that can play in various attacking positions – especially as a back up or rotational player – would be priceless.
Mohammed Kudus has been great this season and is also a player Arsenal admires. He plays for West Ham. His versatility, whether playing as a No. 10 or on the wings or even in midfield, provides options for Arteta when changing the squad for multiple competitions.
On the one hand, Xavi Simons, loaned out to RB Leipzig from PSG, is receiving some attention due to his trickery and goal involvement. That player would provide unpredictability and panache, especially against such defensive units.
Ensuring no creative gap when the key players are rested is an essential long-term goal. Investment in attacking depth isn’t a luxury; it is a necessity.
Future-Proofing the Squad
Arsenal have moved miles under Mikel Arteta, re-building not just a team but also a culture. The club has become wiser in the transfer market as it now emphasizes on long-term growth rather than glamour. That philosophy has to continue in the 2025 summer window.
This is not a reconstruction; it is an improvement. A clinical striker, a powerful defender, a ball-playing midfielder, and an innovative utility forward—not a revolution but an evolution.
It is not just on the match days that the champions are made, but in the quiet, decisive months off the season. If the players that Arsenal managed to attract are the right ones, they will not only be dreaming of trophies, but also be expected to win them.
Having the existing squad members fully fit and available would be great help.
Jack Beam,
You’ve mentioned the usual suspects the rest of the media say Arsenal should sign. Strengthening the forward line, midfield and defense is not the secret plan to improve you think it is.. The only position you left out was goalkeeper.
If you’re going to write for an Arsenal blog at least demonstrate some knowledge of the team, oh maybe who the players are and technical director. That would be Berta, not Edu, our former. And as much as we all love Eddie, he’s not an Arsenal player, he transferred to Crystal Palace before the start of last season. This post feels repurposed, some players named by most journos this season and throw in a couple of AFC names, actually former Arsenal employees to make it seem as if this speculation is new. Perhaps it was written before the current season.
Tony Attwood,
I thought you edited these pieces before posting them. This one must have slipped past.
Why not sign at least 25 players to provide an entirely new squad, so that we can have an “upgrade” in every position?
Assuming that Liverpool are going to strengthen their squad and that the rest of the Premier League who are so terrible that they will even finish below Arsenal will completely renew their playing staff, (never mind the magnetic draws of PSG and the Galactigo? clubs) I am worried that there are not enough players alive to ensure that our needs for next season can be met.
As for appointing a new manager ……… !!! ?