Following three campaigns as the Premier League’s bridesmaids, it seems Arsenal are ready to take the next step. On Saturday, their preparations for the upcoming season officially commence as they journey to Singapore, with Mikel Arteta’s team set to incorporate as many as six fresh faces. And that might not be the conclusion. This is the summer Arsenal are fully committed.
Before the commencement of preseason training, three players had already joined the ranks: Kepa Arrizabalaga, a Premier League first-choice goalkeeper last term with Bournemouth, who will now provide support for David Raya, while Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard signify a complete transformation of the defensive midfield positions, previously occupied by Jorginho and Thomas Partey.
Two additional agreements are pending formal announcement, with Cristhian Mosquera arriving to bolster defensive options for $18.6 million and Noni Madueke, a $70 million acquisition from Chelsea. It’s anticipated that Madueke will be absent from the preseason tour due to his participation in the Club World Cup. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited of all the acquisitions was agreed upon in principle with Sporting last week, and although a definitive accord hasn’t been reached at the time of this writing, Arsenal are projected to allocate an initial $73.6 million for Viktor Gyokeres, with ongoing discussions centered on the precise composition and attainability of $11.6 million in potential add-ons.
With the sextet secured, Arsenal’s immediate priority is to stabilize their financial situation. Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are available for transfer, as is Reiss Nelson. According to CBS Sports sources, Fulham are interested in acquiring him on loan, but both Arsenal and the player prefer a permanent transfer. Leandro Trossard has also attracted attention from clubs in Turkey. It is understood that players like Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Martinelli are not actively being marketed by the Gunners, but substantial offers for them would be given consideration.
Successfully executing some of those sales would create the possibility for one more addition at the Emirates Stadium, a touch of brilliance in the attacking third. CBS Sports reported last month that both Arsenal and Saudi Arabian club Neom SC are vying for Rodrygo, while discussions have transpired between the Gunners and representatives of Crystal Palace’s playmaker, Eberechi Eze. Concurrently, the club has been advancing through the series of contract renegotiations that are required, involving Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri.
The eventual outcome of a truly noteworthy level of activity for a team evidently capable of competing for the Premier League title at peak strength? A squad where, even without that seventh senior addition, there could be at least two trustworthy options for Arteta in each position. Last term, Arsenal’s fringe players were unable to effectively shoulder the burden when Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz were sidelined for extended durations. Losing their three most crucial attackers would spell disaster for any Premier League title contender, but this season, the north London club is at least making every effort to strengthen their squad, enabling Arteta to respond before the demands become excessive for Saka and others.
Berta’s influence
The driving force behind this squad transformation is the new sporting director, Andrea Berta. It would be an oversimplification to attribute a club’s success or failure in the transfer market to a single individual; Arsenal’s recruitment triumphs over the past five years were founded upon a remarkable combination of data-driven scouting, Edu’s unwavering commitment to streamlining the squad, and Arteta’s charismatic leadership. Combining that with a management team above them that shared in the vision, and it proved to be an extremely effective machine, only faltering in the summer of 2024 when money was tighter and the departure of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham prompted Edu’s eyes to consider other possibilities.
His successor, Berta, previously with Atletico Madrid, appears to have made a promising start. Upon his appointment, much emphasis was placed on the Italian’s insatiable thirst for information, which has certainly proven accurate. During his first transfer window at the Emirates Stadium, Berta has maintained a tight inner circle, and while it is impossible for a club of Arsenal’s stature to keep their dealings entirely confidential, they have done a commendable job of keeping the market guessing. Before their decisive pursuit of Gyokeres, few external observers had a clear indication of whether Arsenal would focus on the Swedish striker or Benjamin Sesko.
When they did act, they did so decisively. The agreement for Gyokeres might not be finalized at the time of writing, but all that remains are negotiations around the fringes of a deal that Arsenal quickly established for not much more than the much-debated gentleman’s agreement of $79 million that Sporting insisted did not exist.
Arsenal’s proactive approach is also evident in the acquisition of Norgaard. CBS Sports understands that Tottenham were contemplating a move that would have reunited the Danish player with his former Brentford manager, Thomas Frank, but ultimately the Gunners acted so swiftly in late June that they effectively prevented any potential competitors. Scenes of Norgaard’s delight as he finalized his move reflect the aura that has rapidly developed at this club under Arteta.
When Arsenal have desired a player, they haven’t delayed in securing their services. At times, this can raise questions. Considering they were aware that personal terms could be swiftly finalized with Madueke, who sources say was exclusively focused on the Gunners when their interest materialized, might there have been an opportunity to pressure Chelsea and negotiate a more favorable price, given the Blues’ need to offload numerous forwards?
Possibly, but according to CBS Sports sources, Arsenal believe they have acquired Madueke at a reasonable price. As CBS Sports previously detailed, the 23-year-old England international made significant strides in terms of ball progression and shot creation last season, progress that did not go unnoticed by Arsenal’s recruitment department. While skeptical supporters view the $70 million outlay on a backup for Saka with concern, sources close to the club regard Madueke as a player who will receive ample playing time, both as a left-footed option on the left wing — a valuable complement to Martinelli in that regard — and in his more natural right-sided position.
Other acquisitions appear to be more clearly aimed at providing depth. Mosquera fills a gap in the depth chart on the right side of defense and, at the very least, could ensure that William Saliba doesn’t have to start next season’s equivalent of Preston away in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Valencia had hoped to persuade the 21-year-old to remain at the Mestalla for another year, offering to increase his salary at a club where he could expect to start regularly. However, he remained unconvinced and desired only Arsenal, a situation that allowed them to secure Mosquera’s services at a price significantly below the $23 million valuation initially set by Valencia.
Sources familiar with Mosquera from his time in La Liga speak highly of a player with considerable potential and, as one insider describes him, an “outstanding athletic profile.”
He is “completely” focused both on and off the field, with the potential to develop into a high-quality center back. Given Arsenal’s impressive track record for defensive recruitment over the past four years, it is reasonable to have high hopes.
Title aspirations
Whether Arsenal’s transfer activity will be sufficient to secure the title may depend, in part, on two of their signings. As the top player available in his position, Zubimendi’s acquisition appears shrewd, particularly given that his alternate, Norgaard, will not require time to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
Gyokeres, on the other hand, presents a more complex evaluation. His statistics in Portugal’s top division are remarkably impressive, not only the raw scoring figures of 68 goals in 66 matches, but also the fact that his 226 penalty box touches were more than 50% greater than any other player in the league. However, eight of those goals came from four encounters with Boavista, a club deemed significantly inferior to Wrexham and Charlton Athletic by Elo rankings. Last season, his single goal in four league games against Porto and Benfica came from the penalty spot, as did a further 16 in the league alone.
Comparisons to Darwin Nunez and Mario Jardel might raise concerns based on those statistics, but for every unsuccessful import from Portugal, there is a Luis Diaz, a forward who may not maintain such prolific scoring rates but still proves to be a highly valuable attacker for a top team. Then there is the limited sample size of the Champions League, where he troubled Manchester City and showed no deference to Saliba and Gabriel.
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Gyokeres is a forward who plays with confidence and clearly possesses self-assurance, stating to France Football earlier this summer that he considers himself among the best strikers in the world. Brighton’s decision to release him at the age of 22 still appears to motivate him, and he is aware of the criticisms regarding the translation of goals from the Primeira Liga to other leagues.
“What I managed to achieve at Sporting, I’m confident I can replicate anywhere,” he stated. “You haven’t witnessed the best of Gyokeres yet.”
Assuming Arsenal do see his best, would it be sufficient to propel them to the Premier League title? It is difficult to determine. After all, they are not the sole contender to have pursued their objectives in the transfer window with zeal this summer. They can at least find some solace in the fact that Liverpool seem primarily focused on Hugo Ekitike rather than Alexander Isak, but adding a French youngster who patterned his game after Thierry Henry to Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah has the potential to be a major success for the reigning champions.
Regardless of what Liverpool, Manchester City, and their rivals on the continent accomplish, Arsenal can at least enter this season with the knowledge that they have not become complacent. A team that could have been Champions League finalists if not for improved finishing and who refused to be derailed by a series of injuries have declined to settle with their existing assets. They are making a significant investment. Time will soon reveal whether it will yield a winning outcome.
