Mikel Arteta is planning on making at least another four signings this summer, as his ambitious Arsenal overhaul continues at a rapid pace.
The Gunners were the Premier League's biggest spenders last summer, bringing in six players at a cost of almost £150million. And although some of their business was criticised at the time, the influx of young and talented players have seen Arsenal re-emerge as a genuine contender for the top four.
Wednesday night’s win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge means that Arteta’s side still have their Champions League destiny in their own hands, in what promises to be a battle to the wire with north London rivals Tottenham.
But regardless of whether they return to Europe’s top competition, Arteta intends to continue revamping the squad and according to reports wants another quartet of players when the season ends.
The Telegraph report that Arteta wants to sign four players, including two strikers, with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both set to become free agents at the end of the season. The Arsenal boss has said he will hold talks with both players in the summer, but it’s now a race against time to get either tied to new deals.
Their departures will leave a gaping hole in the forward department, having already allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubaemyang to leave the Emirates during the January window. Elsewhere, an additional creative midfielder is set to be on the agenda, while a left-sided defensive player is also a priority.
It is suggested that - like the signings of Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale last summer - homegrown players will again be at the top of their list, with Arteta hoping to build a strong core of youthful players that will be able to improve at the club for years to come.
Asked earlier this month if he anticipated being active again in the transfer window, Arteta said: “I am expecting so, yes. I think both competitions [the Champions League and Europa League] require a much larger squad because the amount of games you play is much bigger in both, so I don’t think [which you qualify for] makes a lot of difference or changes a lot.
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“If you can financially afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do, if you ask me what I want it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers. You have to come a long way in the aspects that you see on the pitch, it’s a lot of things that have to be put in place, and that takes time.”
When pressed on whether he will continue his policy of promoting from the academy, he added: “It is part of the project and it is part of our DNA. Our academy players have to have opportunities in this club and we want to give them opportunities.
But we have to give them when they are ready. We will decide, depending on the game, whether or not they are ready to take that next step. When I see them closer I will tell you if they are ready!”
