Arsenal's performance in the 2022/23 season has meant they will compete with Europe's elite for their top transfer targets this summer. The Gunners have become one of the Premier League's best teams with a title challenge when few had them down to finish in the top four.
For the first time since Arsene Wenger was still in charge, Champions League football will grace the Emirates Stadium surface. And whilst the initial feeling is one of pride, there is now the added pressure of upgrading Mikel Arteta's side for next season to ensure the work isn't undone.
"Crucial I would say," the Arsenal boss said when asked to describe the importance of the summer. "To go to the next level is going to be a crucial summer for us. That is for sure.
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"First of all to make sure that we maintain everything that we have at the club right now. That we maintain expectations, that we maintain enthusiasm and energy that is around the place and we have a proper preparation to fulfil the objectives and the challenges that we will have next season."
Sporting director Edu Gaspar has been busy conducting a thorough recruitment process on potential reinforcements. Midfield is the priority for Edu, with Declan Rice the priority transfer target, football.london understands. However, alternatives have been identified and a number of midfielders have been linked with a move to north London.
Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch is one midfielder said to be on the Gunners' radar. The former Ajax star moved to Germany last summer but has struggled for regular starts under Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.
He has appeared 31 times for the Bundesliga giants, but has started only five of them. Liverpool are said to be keen themselves as part of Jurgen Klopp's overhaul of his midfield.
The Netherlands international, worth £26m according to CIES Football Observatory, boasted impressive statistics during his time with Ajax. FBREF have him ranked 96th percentile for shot-creating actions and 95th percentile for progressive passes when compared to players in the Eredivisie.
If Arsenal are to place their investment in the Bayern star, they will have to fend off competition from Manchester United. BILD Sport journalist Christian Falk has claimed that the Gunners' Premier League rivals are monitoring Gravenberch's situation in Germany.
Unfortunately for Arteta and Arsenal, United hold an advantage in the pursuit. Erik ten Hag worked with Gravenberch during his Ajax days, playing an instrumental role in the midfielder's rise through the famous youth academy in Amsterdam.
Ten Hag handed Gravenberch his Eredivisie debut in September 2018 against fierce rivals PSV Eindhoven at just 16 years of age. He spent the rest of that season with Ajax's reserve side before gradually becoming one of the Ten Hag's most consistent performers.
"Ryan is a very young player, but he has already gained a lot of experience," Ten Hag said in 2022. "He has already played over 100 games in the Eredivisie, has played in the Champions League and has been called up for the national team. Despite his young age, he has already experienced a lot and, above all, won titles.
“He's very important for our team because he's a box-to-box player. He accelerates out of positional play, does good dribbling, has tremendous passing ability and participates in the build-up play.
“Due to his athleticism and physique, he is also strong in the transition game and can also win the balls. He's come a long way, but can still learn a lot.”
Ten Hag has already proved his desire to bring his best-performing Ajax stars to Old Trafford. Last summer, Antony and Lisandro Martinez both arrived as part of his rebuild of the playing squad at Man United. And despite only joining Bayern last summer, Gravenberch could be next.
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