Mikel Arteta has been told he must upgrade Arsenal’s spine if they are to continue to compete with Manchester City.
After starting the season with aspirations of a top-four finish, the Gunners’ target quickly changed as they raced into a commanding position at the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal have sat at the summit for almost the entirety of the season, but with the finish line in sight, they have been reeled in by the reigning champions.
Wednesday night’s 4-1 defeat at the Etihad means that the gap at the top is just two points, although City have two games in hand and all the momentum to eventually supplant them. Arteta has refused to give up the ghost, but there is a growing sense of inevitability that Pep Guardiola will be lifting his fifth league trophy in seven seasons in the English top flight.
But while the attention of the dressing room is still firmly on a first league title in 20 years, thoughts from outside are beginning to turn to how Arsenal can continue on their upward trajectory. Since Arteta replaced Unai Emery in the Emirates dugout in 2019, there has been a huge overhaul of the playing staff, with their recruitment now envied across the division.
Arsenal Sporting Director, Edu, has been active in recent windows, in particular during the summer and that is expected to be the case when the window opens in six weeks’ time.
Rather than another vast overhaul, this summer is expected to be a case of refining and improving the options at Arteta’s disposal. And ex-Gunners striker Alan Smith believes that a central defender, centre midfielder and striker should all be on the agenda before the start of next season.
“I think you’re probably looking through the heart of the team, through the centre,” Smith told Sky Sports. “We’ve obviously seen how they’ve suffered without Wiliam Saliba and the drop-off was quite drastic really, no manager would want to see that so they miss the Frenchman.
“Thomas Partey has been a bit in and out this season, when Xhaka didn’t play they certainly missed him.
“There’s been a lot of attention on Arsenal’s central midfield, possibly Declan Rice coming. That’s going to be a saga in the summer. Where’s the West Ham midfielder going to end up, it looks like he’s going to leave the Hammers.”
Rice remains one of Arsenal’s top targets and there is optimism a deal can be completed. He won’t come cheap however, and Arteta could be forced into selling players to boost the coffers. Kieran Tierney is one of those touted as a potential departure, with Newcastle understood to be keen on signing the Scottish full-back.
He would likely need replacing, adding to a list which also includes signing a new central defender. Arteta has unearthed one of the Premier League most formidable pairings with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalheas, but the former’s injury has exposed a lack of depth Smith insists his old side must address.
Smith added: “[Jakub] Kiwior, the defender who came in in January, could develop into a very good player so that might be a bit premature because they bought one in Kiwior but Mikel Arteta didn’t feel he was ready yet and Rob Holding got the shout.”
