This summer’s transfer window could be Arteta’s most significant as Arsenal boss. In his initial years on the job, the Spaniard was keen on signing promising prospects. Then he changed his transfer tactics, opting to go for more experience with his signings last year, signing Zinchenko and Jesus, and Trossard in January.
The winning experience the Manchester City boys have brought to their project has gotten the Gunners to a position where they are now fighting for the PL title. Though there’s a chance they won’t win it, that disappointment will surely inspire Arteta to go all out this coming transfer window.
When the 2022–23 season is discussed, the one obstacle to Arsenal beating City hands down will be that the Citizens have a better squad than Arsenal. Guardiola could quickly refresh his team, unlike Arteta, who has sometimes been forced to depend on certain players who, at times, aren’t at their best just because they are not top quality players.
This challenge could be rectified this summer. Arsenal has plans to make quality signings to go for Manchester City’s crown. Arteta wants to bolster every part of the pitch as per the Daily Mail.
In attack, he is keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Mousa Diaby. Arteta is ready for the Frenchman to come and torment PL fullbacks with his pace. Diaby’s deal may be tricky, considering Newcastle also want him, but even so, Arsenal is prepared to turn to Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha as a fallback plan. Zaha would be joining for nothing if Arsenal were forced to sign him after missing out on Diaby.
In midfield, Arteta has his eyes on Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, but we already knew about that. Though we didn’t know who would be the fallback plan if the deals for the two midfielders didn’t go through, now we know Southampton’s Romeo Lavia could be possible target. Even so, for the midfield, Rice will likely be the priority; if not signed, Arsenal’s summer transfer window would be considered a failure as he is considered this summer’s top transfer target.
For the defence, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is being closely monitored; in fact, reports suggest Arsenal are preparing a bid for his deal. The 22-year-old is seen as the perfect William Saliba backup. The former Chelsea star is no doubt the Holding upgrade Gooners have been crying out for.
With the six mentioned, if Arteta gets at least four of them, let’s say Guehi, Caicedo, Rice, and Diaby join, what impact could these deals have on Arteta’s best lineup next term?
As good as they are, I only see Rice making the Arsenal lineup; correct me if I am wrong, but most of these signings will be great options from the bench or when Arteta opts to Rotate. My strongest lineup next season is:
Aaron Ramsdale
White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko
Partey, Rice and Odegaard
Saka, Jesus and Martinelli
That’s mine. What’s Yours?
Daniel O
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Arteta did not really rotate a lot when he had a healthy squad. How many games has Tierney had? How often did Tomiyasu play when healthy?
ESR been healthy for a while, yet doesn’t get a nod in midfield. Vieira has flopped several times, but no ESR chances.
Trossard could have started while Saka has taken a dip. 20/20 is hindsight, but several players could have been rotated in without too drastically dropping off in quality.
Hopefully next year we’ll see more rotation rather than his preferred 11 or 12 players every game.
I honestly think this is what has got us in a bad position. A number of things happen.
1. Fatigue – players obviously get fatigued
2. Complacency – players get comfortable
3. – disheartened. I’ve wrote a few time how Trosard and Nelson have done brilliant in certain games. Why keep trying if you get no reward. This is where pep has it perfect. Teams can’t even prepare for certain players because suddenly they are on the bench
SBG, and then Gundogan who hasn’t been playing much, comes back out of the blue and nearly scores a hatrck !
sorry – hat-trick
Agree 100%. I’ve been saying this all season. Did pep not get blasted earlier in the season for tinkering? Now look where City are? I thought Arteta is supposed to be copying him? Why buy players and not play them? Martinelli and Saka are too young yet Arteta overplayed them and now they are knackered. What did he ever see in Vieira – he needs replacing.
Midfield is partey Caicedo and odegaard. That’s my midfield. Rice is great by Caicedo is a replica of partey. Our midfield will be formidable.
Hardave, are you sure about that comparison between Partey and Caicedo ?
Isn’t Caicedo alot more hard running, mobile, quicker,powerful,spritely than Partey? I’m not, however, saying Caicedo is at present more effective than our Thomas, but I think they are very different.
We need to get rid of Partey too many injuries and has shadow outside of football over him We also need a twenty goal a, season striker Jesusnot the answer new centre back and both right and left backs to come in too Five new players Partey Jesus, Balogun Holding and fringe players to be sold
Just seen this S J, when Partey is good he’s impressive but when he’s bad I can’t watch. Most on this site love him, and I recognise he’s put in some excellent performances this season. However, it took me a long time to be convinced about him, then I became a fan until recently. He’s gone backwards again. He’s not going to be one for our future. But I wish him well and hope he can stay out of Clink.
Agree with you, and it will be a perfect one
Leo Messi, 1 or 2 year contract. The 2 midfielders + 1 defender. Premier League Title next season
Yossarian, it would be interesting to see Messi in the Prem but I’m not sure he’d run riot. He’s older, the Prem is tougher than the French counterpart.
Messi’s days are numbered so I think we should stay clear. Also he would probably want a couple of million a week ! Obscene.
Yossarian , Surely you must realise that MESSI will not be coming to us?
Not a cat in hells chance, I am glad to say! Arteta is not a collector of “antiques”, fortunately!!
Only a top center forward missing from the dream list by the writer.
Have long put together a minimum of four top targets. maybe a speed monster full back could be added.
With the anticipation of champions league football, the war chest could well be in the region of £160 – 200 mill
But as the spine of the team is strengthened so must the mentality with increase confidence.
i will be amazed if we do not bust a gut to bring in ONE proven top notch specialist striker. You can depend on it that we will be striving might and main to buy one.
I think the club are still interested in Vlahovic. Some of our fans may have foolishly written him off but I will wager MA and Edu have not.
Contrary to your views Daniel, I consider Caicedo is of the calibre to be a first choice pick in our central midfield along with Partey.Thrown in the deep end at RB against Man Utd yesterday, after a tricky start against the dangerous Rashford he imposed himself on the match in a position which is foreign to him.He and MacAllister are top quality midfielders and either would strengthen our side in my opinion.Caicedo in particular is very quick over the ground yet has the ball skills and composure to retain possession in tight areas.A terrific young player who I would love to see at Arsenal.Despite playing great football Brighton lack a cutting edge up front and the fact that they have agreed a deal to sign Jau Pedro of Watford, comes as no surprise.Perhaps we could tempt them with Nelson and/or Nketiah as part of a real for Caicedo?
Completely agree – it sounds like there might be some interest in Nelson as well. I’d be loathe to let him go, but it might be worth it if he’s thinking of moving on anyway.
I would like to see us get Rice, Vlahovic, and Cancelo. I think Vlahovic brings a different kind of threat in front of goal, no need to sign a new winger as Jesus can play anywhere along the front line. I don’t think Ben White has done anything wrong to lose his spot, but cancelo will allow be able to play a similar role to zinchenko, which would allow zinchenko to concentrate a bit more on defending from time to time. Also Ben White can be the second right sided CB. For me Rice alongside partey would be immense.
Steve, Cancelo would be like a dream come true. However, now, I don’t think Man City would let us have him. Also he might prefer to go to Spain. Guardiola doesn’t mess about does he, as soon as there was irritation with Cancelo he moved him out. Another one he got rid of surprisingly, was Ferran Torres who I rated but again Guardiola moved him on. One can never know what’s going on behind closed doors which is why it’s always a guessing game for us.
If the board could really support Mikel with both caicido and rice plus a right back then bring florrem from loan these could impact our team next season
I’d like caicedo and a young prospect midfielder – who that is, I don’t know.
I’d have caicedo starting in xhaka’s position initially, with a view to moving him into Partey’s role down the line. I’d just hope that arteta would be comfortable rotating these players (and jorginho) in the league and more important cup games.
Rice could be a xhaka replacement, if signed, and I think he’d be good – just not good enough to justify the money being asked, reportedly. I wouldn’t want him to replace partey – possibly better defensively, but nowhere close with the ball at his feet. I think Partey’s role is the most crucial in the side, so we have to get that right.
The young RB sounds like a good idea to cover for white (I have to assume the scouting would be sound for a la liga player) and the comments suggesting it could allow white to act as cover for saliba, along with Tomi (who I think should be kept – if we can get him through his injury issues, I think he can be more than useful) are very sensible.
Vlahovic could be a smart move – I think he could rotate with jesus, offer something different and jesus can play different roles, as others have mentioned. Alternatively, we could go for a younger player of a similar style to Vlahovic (I think there’s 2 or 3 options), which would keep jesus happy as the primary striker, but still give us some options. I think Balogun will go, and I think it’s the best time for that to happen – for him and for arsenal.
I wouldnt mind rice or caicedo, but rice helps fill the quota of english players too as i would imagine holding will be sold in the summer and smith rowe may start to look for game time else where. Vlahovic is only 23 so I think he’s young enough as well as experienced. I think another player who would be a good replacement for xhaka would be milinkovic-savic.
I wouldn’t want to compromise on getting rice over caicedo as I don’t think rice is as good a player or as good a fit for our side – I think rice could be superb for Newcastle, but would be less impressive in our team due to the different playing styles. I’d rather we did more to keep our own home grown players (such as ESR and potentially Nelson) than pay over the odds for someone who might not be such a good fit.
I get that Vlahovic is still young, I meant someone who’s less proven and therefore more likely to be patient and happy to start off behind Jesus in the pecking order. I think that might be better for squad harmony, which is an important consideration.
I love that idea,I think arsenal should sign mason mount,declan rice and moises caicedo the reason for mount is that he is an attacking midfielder and arsenal need an attacking midfielder who attacks with the ball not a defensive midfielder who says back all the time,In my opinion signing mount would be a good option fit at the squad he can play in the champions league,or domestic league cups like the fa Cup or the carabao or when odegaard is sick or something and he could help us win the league me personally I like mount- I think arteta should sign him the summer.
I don’t disagree on mount – I think he’s a good player who can perform in several different roles. My only concern is the reported contract demands. We’d have to be sure he has the right motivations
Ngolo Kante was a brilliant player five years ago. Now he is an over paid shadow of his former dominant self. Against Arsenal he looked like he was running ankle deep in mud.
Arsenal are never signing Declan Rice. He would be a brilliant signing and Arsenal will bid for him, but when the money gets insane, and it’s 100 million to buy him, a $5 million bonus to sign him and $350,000 per week salary to pay him; Arsenal will blink, just like they did with Vlahovic.
Arsenal are spending money and buying diamonds; but they’re shopping at Zales, not Tiffany’s. Rice, Bellingham, and Josko Gvardiol are the big prizes in summer 2023. Arsenal won’t sign any of them. Expect him to go to Manchester United, Manchester City, or Real Madrid. Liverpool need him more and with a number of players coming to the end of their contracts, they might be able to pay Rice.
Arsenal are in a tricky place right now with some of their top players. Saka has not yet signed a new deal and neither has Saliba. Tierney wants out, and unless his agent is incompetent, so does Emile Smith Rowe. Lose one or two and Arsenal will be lucky to tread water next season. Lose all four and the Gunners will need to spend another $400 million to stay in contention. A few other players, if they have hopes of actually playing football will need to move as well. Elneny, Holding, Reiss Nelson might not be seen as important, but they are solid squad players; and very few teams can afford starys 2 deep all across their team sheet.
My optimistic but realistic 2 deep roster for a 4-3-3 Arsenal 2023/24:
Ramsdale (Turner)
Cancelo (Tomiyasu), White (Kiwior) Gabriel (Trusty) Zinchenko (Tavares)
Partey (Jorginho), Odegaard (Vieira), Sergej Malinkovic-Savic (Xhaka)
Saka (Pulisic), Jesus (Balogun), Martinelli (Trossard)
Squad players – Mohamed Elneny, Marquinos, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Miguel Aziz,
The fantasy full roster:
Ramsdale (Meslier)
Cancelo (Tomiyasu) Saliba (White), Gabriel (Kiwior), Zinchenko (Tavares)
Rice (Jorginho), Odegaard (Vieira), Malinkovic-Savic (Xhaka)
Saka (Pulisic), Jesus (Balogun), Martinelli (Barnes)
Squad players: Turner, Trusty, Elneny, Aziz, Lokonga, Trossard, Nketiah
Arsenal need a better reserve keeper than Matt Turner, and if Leeds go down, Meslier will be available. He is the perfect Arteta keeper, he’s young, and might be the best goalkeeper in world football some day – but Arsenal won’t buy him and he’ll got to Tottenham and replace Lloris at both club and country. Arsenal will buy a Chelsea player, but not Mount (he wants to start) or Kante, (please don’t sign another Jorginho). Pulisic is only 24, he scores goals, but he offers the combination of defense/offense like Saka, pace, guile, while his injury record will make him affordable – and with Saka in the side, he won’t play more than 15 games a year anyway. Manchester United are reported to be looking to upgrade at right back, and Wan Bissaka would be a good choice given Tomiyasu’s injury record. Arsenal won’t sign him though, they’ll go for with Walker-Peters as a reserve, or, if they think Tomiyasu is finished and are looking at a replacement, Joao Cancelo would be the kind of inspired signing that might make Arsenal champions.
Arsenal won’t want to pay huge money to both, so they will lose either William Saliba to PSG or Bacary Saka to Real Madrid and Arteta will choose to keep Saka. Kieran Tierney is fed up and will go to Newcastle, Emile Smith-Rowe either moves on or resigns himself to becoming the winger version of Rob Holding – good, capable, and entirely untrusted and overlooked by all and sundry) to Aston Villa, Holding should go; Fulham, Brighton, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Brentford, Wolves, and Bournemuth cou9ld use him. Eddie Nketiah to Everton (if they stay up. Crystal Palace if not – because Arsenal have no room in the team for three strikers and Nketiah has shown he is good but not good enough to lead the line for a season and Balogun has shown the potential to be a 20 goal scorer).
Ainsley Maitland Niles, Pablo Mari, Nicolas Pepe, Runar Runarasson, and Cedric soares will all leave either on free tor loan transfers.
paul I read you post and was thinking why the hell does he not think Saliba will be in the team!!
And then I read your opinion that SALIBA will leave.
I say NOT in a million years and think you are as wrong as can possibly be. HAD Saliba been fit this last month we would now be title favourites with another six points at least
. It IS imperative we get Holding out of this squad though, as he is really very very much below the level we need..
Don’t think we’ll get 6 points. we would not have won at Anfield, Sailba or not. 4 points yes, but there were also other problems: Saka, Martinelli, Zinchenko, White and Partey are shattered. the manager did not freshen up his team, yet we had able players sat on the bench. Had we got Caicedo in January instead of Jorginho perhaps the manager would have trusted resting Party more. Everton (draw), ManC at home (draw) and Brentford (win) could have been 4 points Caicedo could have won for us (6 points vis a vis ManC) add that to the woirthless Westham and S’hampton draws that’s 10 points against ManC. We would still be 6 points ahead of them.,
I think it highly likely we will have around£200 mill avail, including any money from sales, which will however be far less than many on here hope we will get for sales.
I see Hoilding(definitely) Balogun(extremely likely) Tierney( foolishly) and Xhaka (wistfully) being let go or sold. Elneny looks likely to stay, having signed a new contract. God alone knows why. I suspect he is seen as a club coach in the making.
Also such as Pepe and other not made the grade loanees too, as departing. I think Nelson will wish to go and be let go, albeit reluctantly by MA.
About ESR, I see him perhaps asking for a transfer and could hardly blame him, given his neglect by MA. I PRAY HE STAYS THOUGH.
Id love to see Viera gone too but cannot see it happening, sadly.
Lokonga and Tavares MUST also depart for good, as neither are up to the level we need. AMN will also finally depart and about time IMO. Likewise Mari!
My gut instinct tells me that Jesus might , just might, be used in a part exchange for an incoming striker and frankly, I can live with that prospect, as Jesus, as good as he is, is not a regular scorer and we NEED ONE. I expect Nketiah to stay though, but not as first choice.
I would love to get Rice but fear he will be too dear, all things considered. Hope I am wrong.
We should buy Geuhi, Javic, Caicedo and Madison (bin Vieira). That’s £250m if we really want to challenge City properly.
Summer ’24 we can then go for the best striker not at a top club.
We should keep Saliba, ESR, Balogun and Tierney if we are remotely serious. Replacing these 4 players will cost £200m. it will be crazy and financial stupidity to allow any of them go.
But the manager should learn to use his squad depth.