Mikel Arteta is expected to add to his Arsenal squad over the summer as he attempts to build on a campaign in which his team reached the Champions League semi-finals
Arsenal edged one step closer to a Champions League return over the weekend, but some fans will already be looking ahead to the summer transfer window. The Gunners moved up to 68 points with their draw away at Liverpool, and two points from their last two games would make them mathematically sure of a top-five finish.
The Gunners host Newcastle in their penultimate fixture before rounding off the season away to bottom-of-the-table Southampton. After that, the focus will be on securing the new faces required to help Mikel Arteta’s side compete for the title next term.
“If you cannot be the best, then you have to be the best of the rest. That is very important,” Arteta told BBC Radio 5 Live when explaining the hunger to secure second place this term.
“Again today we play with ten men, half of our team injured, and some of them playing when they should not, and still we performed in a way we have done for seven/eight months. That is what we have to demand from ourselves.”
There will be many in North London who feel a new striker should be top of the list, though exactly who is a matter of debate. Here, Mirror Football provides the latest transfer lines from around the Emirates Stadium.
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Gunners fail with Bernal bid
Arsenal have seen a seven-figure bid for Chelsea youngster Freddy Bernal knocked back, it has been claimed. The Blues are said to be determined to keep the 16-year-old goalkeeper, despite Arsenal offering £1.25million for a player still waiting for his senior debut.
Bernal has played five times in the Under-18 Premier League this season, including starts in the last two matches, as Chelsea finished just behind Arsenal in the southern section. He was also named in the England Under-18 squaf for a trio of March internationals, though he remained on the bench against the Czech Republic, France and Portugal.
Arsenal added two young keepers to their squad over the summer, with Lucas Nygaard and Tommy Setford arriving from Nordsjaelland and Ajax respectively. Both have featured in Premier League 2 this term, while Setford has made matchday squads in the Premier League and Champions League.
Neville says Arsenal need two forwards
Arsenal’s problems up front leaves them in need of two new forwards, according to pundit Gary Neville. The former Manchester United man believes the Gunners need an orthodox number nine and another new face, after being found lacking while missing injured duo Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a 25-30 goal striker by the way,” Neville told Sky Sports. “It’s not going to be Olivier Giroud – but it needs someone up there who can play the position, who knows how to bring other people into play, who can sort of link with Martin Odegaard, who can make those sort of connections with the wide players.
“And they do need another forward as well. So they need two forwards, one’s got to be more of a central striker and one is someone that can come from wide but be a goal threat.”
Trossard contract talks begin
Arsenal have opened transfer talks with Leandro Trossard, according to The Mail. The Belgian’s current deal runs until 2026, but the new deal would reportedly keep him in North London until 2029.
Clubs in the Saudi Pro League have been tipped to test Arsenal’s resolve this summer after Al-Ittihad failed with an offer in September. The Jeddah club ended up bringing in former Spurs winger Steven Bergwijn, who has hit double figures for goals in his first season, but they could yet return for Trossard.
The Arsenal star, 30, has played a part in every single one of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League games this season. He has a total of 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions, with eight of those goals coming in the league.
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