Arsenal have been strongly linked with numerous players this summer, yet the club has yet to complete the signing of a single player. This has raised concerns among some sections of the fanbase, especially since other Premier League rivals have already made early moves in the transfer market.
Manchester City have reportedly secured four new signings ahead of the Club World Cup, while Liverpool and Manchester United have each confirmed at least one addition to their respective squads. In contrast, Arsenal are yet to announce any reinforcements, despite consistent links to various high-profile players.
Pressure Mounts to Strengthen the Squad
There is a shared desire among supporters for Arsenal to win silverware in the upcoming campaign, but achieving that will require more than hope. A key issue that most observers agree upon is the need for a new striker. Reports continue to associate Arsenal with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, both of whom have been widely discussed as possible arrivals.
However, signing both players is not a realistic scenario. Financial and tactical considerations suggest the club will need to select just one, yet a definitive decision has not been announced. The lack of clarity on this front is contributing to growing frustration, particularly as time progresses.
Missed Opportunities and Ongoing Speculation
Earlier this year, there were strong rumours that Arsenal had made progress in a deal for Martin Zubimendi, with suggestions that an agreement had been reached for the summer. Despite these claims, no official confirmation has been provided by the club, and the midfielder remains at Real Sociedad.
Additionally, the goalkeeper position remains unresolved. Arsenal had been tipped to sign Joan Garcia once the transfer window reopened. However, he has since committed to a move to Barcelona, leaving the Gunners without one of their rumoured top targets.
Arsenal continue to be linked with several players, but with no signings finalised so far, there is increasing concern that they may end the summer acquiring players who other top clubs passed over. Time remains, but decisive action will be essential to ensure the squad is adequately strengthened.
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Stop quacking. Please.
Liverpool signing Leverkusen Florians Wirtz, is going to turn this transfer window on its head for more than one reason.
The Merseyside club improve instantly, but it also shows Arsenal reported war chest of over £300 mill is realistic
Nothing new from Arsenal always sitting on the fence and end up buying more Chelsea rejects.
Spot on Eddie. We have been obsessed with buying whatever crap Chelsea can’t get rid of for over two decades.
I’m sure Zubimendi is ‘done’ in principle but can’t be finalised until the end of the month because of Sociadad’s accounting situation. The striker situation appears to be a bit of a faff with us apparently negotiating for both Gyökeres and Sesko at the same time, which is either us being undecided on one or the other or just plainly inept and possibly losing out on both.
GB, I’m surprised by your negativity!!
There was no need for us to sign anyone in the early transfer window, as we don’t feature in the world club competition and werr sensible in waiting for this nonsense country league nonsense competition to finish.
What if any of the recent signings get injured and out for the season?
I believe we’ve signed Zubimendi for £59 million and we’re looking to buy Sesko and Gyokes for around £180 million,bringing the total to the rumoured £240 million figure that has been suggested.
Why do I think this is the case?
Because we are earning from last year’s injury crisis and if we only bought one striker and he got injured, we would be back to square one.
I may be totally wrong, but let’s wait and see.
The negativity comes from not winning the league in 21 years, with all our major rivals already strengthening. Do you not think getting a striker in early is a message to a prospective winger (or any other player linked) that we mean business? We have been talking to Sesko for over a year, all of these details about transfer fees should have been established agreed, or if not we move onto another target. Man Utd got Cunha over the line, if they get Gyokores and possibly Mbeumo is it not unreasonable to say they have a better front line than we do? The key here is intention, other clubs are active while we procrastinate as usual. I am not up for a panic loan deal at the end of the summer for a washed up left winger.
TH14, our previous manager had to wait a year to sign the striker he wanted, as his club refused to sell him to us. That striker was worth the wait, as he went on to become our record goalscorer, a certain TH14.
Arsenal should be serious with their transfer business and stop wasting time. Negotiation should be fast and precise rather than going for all players and signing none. Look at Liverpool and Man city transfer model, that’s how you do business. If you think a player is worth the value. Do your due diligence and negotiate swiftly and complete the process. Very sluggish club
‘Summer’ – summer has been two weeks long so far.
Relax.
Exactly James. Anybody would think the season is about to start the way some of the fans are throwing theirs toys out of their prams. They’re so bloody impatient.
Even when AW was in charge, we have always tried to emulate the success of PV, TH in finding gems and selling them on for more money. I honestly think that the Kroenke do not put the money up that is advertised year in year out, and it’s just a distraction for the fans, and that the Manager and recruitment staff are scurrying around trying to get the best for what they have available for the pot of money they have available for the positions they need to fill, as I have mentioned before, start window shopping in Harrods and buy from Aldi, Middle Isle
I hope it different this year, but the same form is happening time and time again
AW was no skinflint. Hell, until the stadium move forced his hand, he was happy to pay top dollar for his targets. It was just that, at the time, he had a serious first-mover advantage in some leagues, which meant he got players before any sort of bidding war occurred.
Last summer, our number 1 priority was a striker, but Arteta somehow managed to blow 70 million of Stan’s pounds on another midfielder and another left back when 55 million pounds would have landed Sesko. Reports have since come out indicating that Sesko rejected the move because Mikel wouldn’t guarantee him the striker position (absolute lunacy, if true).
Now, his club want up to 80 million pounds for him, and it’s all our own fault.
Disagree with this .
Go up to 2004 and see what was the most he spent on a player compared to say Man United or Chelsea
MrBure, that’s not factually correct about Sesko. He said last year that he wanted one more year at RBL before moving.
It was important for Arsenal to buy a midfielder and a left back during last summer’s transfer window.
It’s really curious that so many fans think it was some kind of waste.
Certainly, it would be have been useful for us to have signed a striker as well.
A left back ?
😂
We already had 4 and skelly who keeped our new one of the team when he was fit .
Stop talking nonsense for the sake of it .
Absolute rubbish talk
This is why I generally don’t discuss with idiots and bullies. We clearly had injury problems and issues with form at left back.
Surely even the most negative of Arsenal so-called fans can think back to the situation we had before Skelly became a mainstay at left back. To not shore up the left back position would have left Arsenal in a potentially vulnerable position.
David,
You say that you don’t generally discuss with idiots and bullies.
This from a man who in previous posts, has called poster’s on here Nonentities, Empty Headed, and now your latest two of Idiots and Bullies.
While you have every right to your opinion, and if yours’s differs form someone else’s, is there any real need to get personal. 🤷♂️
Wenger had a master wheeler dealer, who was his boss. The name was David Dein. Now we just dither and delay.
The official transfer window doesn’t open until Monday, so I am not particularly stressed by what other teams are doing. What worries me is our fixation with Chav cast-offs. We’re actually making serious moves to sign a keeper who once refused to be subbed off by his manager? That was peak unprofessionalism, but is clearly not a non-negotiable for Mikel.
Not sure if you know it, but our player of the year, Declan Rice, is a “chav cast-off”.
Many would agree that it was unprofessional behaviour by Kepa. However, what he did was not criminal and this was quite a few years ago. He has since demonstrated good performances and there is no evidence of persistent poor behaviour. It would not really make sense to have such antipathy towards him just for that one incident.
Arsenal hasn’t won a single match during the 2025-2026 season and are tied for bottom of the table!!!
We are tied at the top of the league with Aston Villa, both on 0 (zero) points.
It’s a tight league with the bottom clubs also on zero points.
So, 2025/26 seems to be very tight.
🤞
Goonster, when Bournemouth were first promoted to the PL, I could not believe they were top of the league before a ball was kicked. Then I discovered why. It’s because they are registered as AFC Bournemouth.
Herr Drier,
You stole my thunder regarding AFC Bournemouth, you got there first. Fair dues. 😂👍
Derek, 😁
@Herr Drier
So if Bournemouth can’t make up their minds and are masquerading as both AFC Bournemouth and just Bournemouth etc, then that makes the top 3 very tight between
AFC Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa FC.
If it’s this tight without a single ball having been kicked then imagine when we are 10 games into the season?.
Boy, 2025/26 looks tough.
😊
Goonster, looks like we are 2nd again. Sack the manager 😂😉
The reasons for the delay are that everyone is aware of our desperate need for a new striker, so they are overpricing us, and the other reason is that we have to wait for Zubimendi’s announcement. Maybe I can see us switching to our top winger targets if the striker prices don’t come down soon
And does anyone know what happened to the Greek wonder kid *“KONSTANTINOS KARETSAS”* that we supposedly had signed for £38 million at the start of this month?
The whole thing went so quiet on that front.
😄
It was probably just one of the hundreds of links that’ll come out of nowhere until the window closes.
Remember that we live in the age of social media, fake news and AI, so 99% of the rumors will be as believable as a government official called Pinocchio!
I was listening to a journalist cum pundit who said he was too young to come to the premier league. Is that a possibility? Was on the radio today
We spend too much time negotiating on the same player. If it fails to work, we should move away quickly before time runs out and try other targets. We have to estimate the price of our targets before going in and know if we will manage to get them, than going in blindly to waste our time on negotiations.
This is an absolute joke of an article because the summer transfer window hasn’t even opened yet!
One of my critiques of some in our fanbase, and the modern day, social media type of fan, is a ridiculous lack of patience, but this is something new.
Rinse and repeat this article in the final 2/3 weeks of the window, and then it’ll finally have it’s relevance.
@Lucy78
Welcome to my world. That’s why I keep labelling them as “SENSATIONALISTS” since 2022.
They want everything right here and now. If they can’t get it their way then a complete meltdown ensues.
😊
😂
I know, it’s too many childlike responses from fans.
They really seem to hate context as well, because there’s a great article on Sky Sports showing the extent of Arsenal’s injuries last season, including key players, compared to the rest of the league, and yet some fans don’t think it’s makes any difference.
I hope Arteta is on holiday with his first family by that I mean his wife children. I hope they are having a great time together.
So do I. He looked knackered by the end of the season
If we think that he looked knackered by the end of this season then Next season is going to be even more demanding for him.
I do think that we are all now ready for him to start delivering the Title or CL titles from next season or I am afraid the fanbase will turn on him. The media has already turned on him this season.
I just hope he takes his long deserved holiday with family and comes back all fresh and ready for a big 2025/26 season.
🤞👍🙏
Agreed
Unless people have good reasons, undue negativity will need to be challenged. The media just love headlines and talking points so their narratives should always be taken with a pinch of salt.
It’s all very well to want to have trophies. However, the recent unstable situations at Spurs and MU should serve as a warning to everyone that trophies aren’t everything.
It is important to also realise that we are up against other huge clubs in our own league and in Europe. Winning the biggest titles should be the goal but we are up against other top clubs and this will need to be taken into account.
@David.
You are preaching to the choir here. I have been and continue to be a lightening rod against the usual suspects (Negativists / Arteta Doomers / Arteta Grudgists etc).
But I will also not just defend Arteta for the sake of being the Antidote to the Arteta Doomers.
I expected another close Title challenge / even winning the whole thing or CL this season (2024/25). But after all the mitigating factors (Unnecessary Res cards, Injuries, Poor player form etc) then I had to revise my expectations. I was not happy whatsoever with the outcome of this season but had to logical after weighing up all those extenuating factors that were out of Arteta’s hands.
But let’s be honest, next season he has to deliver either one of (The Title or CL). Or get to the Final of the CL, stay the whole way in the Title race etc. We also can’t continue to be knocked out of the Domestic Cups like we have been in the last 4 seasons. We have been a complete joke in the Domestic cups.
I do feel like this starting season (2025/26) has a lot riding on it for both Arteta, the Fanbase, Owners and Players too. I do have a strong incline that it’s going to be the Make
Or Break season for Arteta.
It’s time, been 5 years now. The young players that he nurtured are now coming into their prime. They will be looking around thinking to themself, “Is he the right man to take us to the next level?” Etc.
To me the players starting to have those lingering doubts about the manager etc is my biggest worry. Because once that starts we know how it normally end for the manager or the dressing room.
Arteta has got to be a bit more brave in our approach and play. He seems to be too cautious and very risk averse..
🤞🤞
😂
Who are these young players he’s nurtured that are coming into their prime ?
Are you talking about skelly and Nwaneri ,both 18 years old abit young to be prime players ,unless I’m mistaken there are no other players he’s nurtured .
Unless your going to suggest Saliba (lol) and saka (lol)
@Dan Kit
And you wonder why no serious posters on here ever take you seriously an interlocutor.
It’s the level of engagement with you.
🤦♂️
What you consider yourself a serious poster ?
Side note I asked you a question which you couldn’t answer obviously.
Isn’t it 😂
What if I found your supposed question to be ridiculous / dishonest and did not warrant being answered or taken seriously?
That’s like me trying to argue with a Flat Earther who asked me a question: “You say that the Planet Earth is round, can you prove / provide any evidence for it?”.
It’s the same as People the kept or continue to claim that Arteta did not progress our club one bit etc..
How is one supposed to engage or get to such disingenuous individual?
To me your question is in the “Flat Earth” / “Arteta did not progress us” realm.
I don’t have the patience to waste time on such.
👍👌
That’s Mr Dan for you…. And we have many like him on here…
At least he’s not abusive this time..you handled him well
The facts of Arteta’s failure that you have listed point only to one conclusion, no major club would put up with this manager’s mega expenses and an empty trophy cabinet.
For all who keep talking about the brilliance of our 3 second place finishes and deep run in the CL it doesn’t carry any weight in the market. Our manager has the combined appeal of a liver dinner and a skunk’s ***hole?
More Hale enders decided not to sign a professional contract then Arteta has nurtured into their prime time.
MD-Gunner, name those Hale Enders that decided not to sign professional contracts ?
Btw, liver, bacon mashed potatoes, onions and gravy is a lovely dinner 😁
Got to be fried onions though HD, along with onion gravy!!
Good old fashioned nosh 👍👍
Most definitely Ken 👍
Herr Drier and Ken1945,
All this talk of food has made me hungry. How about Sausage, Mash, and onions.🍽
And what would be your choice of drink🍺 to wash it down with.👍
Derek, I much prefer pie, mash, liquor and chilli vinegar. Unfortunately most of the places that served that dish have now closed down ☹️.
Actually Herr Drier,
Pie and Mash isn’t a bad shout to be honest. And yes your right, there don’t seem to be that many Pie and Mash shops about these days.
I can think of four really good ones that I used to go to.
Toad in the hole, stuffed hearts, belly of pork, breast of lamb, all great British fodder.
Fish wise? Skate, prawns, crab, white bait and most shell fish.
Washed down with a pinot or merlot and alls right with the world!!
Agreed MD- Gunner and that’s why DK’s question was a very good one.
We have also seen quite a few Hale Enders fail when it comes to the crunch,as the likes of Nketiah, Iwobi and Nelson.
We have also let some players leave who, in hindsight, we should have given more time too-the likes of ESR, Heaven and Beth.
Trouble is, hindsight isn’t part of the abilities we possess, but I agree with both yours and DK’s observations.
Let’s remember, it was only through injuries that Martinelli, Skelly and Nwaneri were
selected.
But with the impatient fanbase we have, what does MA do, buy proven players or gamble with the younger ones?
I wouldn’t mind Arteta buying established players but by the end of this summer’s TW he will have spent close to 1 Billion, which is why the fan base is impatient.
We have no scouting department what to speak off and Arteta can’t identify talent and has a fetish for buying LBs and left footed CBs when for years we have screamed for attackers.
When he bought in 2022 Jesus for £46m plus £10m in add ons he could have bought Isak for £63m that same year. What is their respected value now? Arteta can’t spot talent even when it hits him in the face.
MD-Gunner, any chance of you answering my question of which Hale Enders decided not to sign professional contracts ?
Technically Chido Obi
You lazy bum! Put this in your Google search and you get your answer.
“which arsenal academy players did not sign a professional contract”
No it’s well knows Man United took a couple
We literally discussed Obi on here as one that got away
If I put it in Google I’m sure others would show up lol
Dan, Obi-Martin couldn’t sign a professional contract with us as he was to young. 17 is when a scholar can sign their first professional contract.
MD-Gunner, its down to you to name those youngsters, as it was YOU that made the statement !
As for your first sentence. That’s a bit rich coming from you !!
@MD-Gunner
So you believe that no major club would put up with Arteta after this supposed mega spend and an empty cabinet?
This is the problem with such a myopic and superficial way of reasoning. You seem to speak in generalities / catchphrases and bumper sticker terms..
I don’t know if you guys ever sit back and look at things in a much bigger / nuanced way. Let’s go back to December 2019 when Emery was sacked and Rookie / no experience Arteta was hired as Head Coach. Why do you think that the club owners (Kroenke’s) went for a complete novice in Arteta instead of another Experienced manager back then? There were many to choose from but why do you think they went with a no experience Arteta over the Experienced managers?
It’s because they were thinking more long term then the surface level (Spurs, Man United, Chelsea etc Hire and Fire strategy. They definitely wanted progressive stability ahead of the typical unstable Hire and Fire strategy that many fans like yourself seem to prefer.
And I myself would have loved for Arteta to have won more trophies by now. I have pointed out this frustration for at least teo seasons now. But at the same time I have to look at the bigger picture, I can see where he found us as a club in 2019, he has slowly rebuilt the team, the club and the fanbase has not been this optimistic about our chances to win a EPL Title or CL since 2003/24 and 2006. The club is making more money a season than we have done in the Emirates era (we are very / more financially strong hence why Arteta can spend (the £780 million, £800 million or the £1 billion etc) depending on which Arteta Doomer’s calculations. Everyone has their figure that they will pluck from out of their buttocks depending on the mood they are in or day. So Arteta has contributed to the financial growth of the club, hence why he is allowed to also spend some of that money. Isn’t it?
It’s been a disppointing end in these last
Three seasons for us but only a surface level thinker would have wanted Arteta sacked. I bet the likes of Man United, Chelsea, Spurs etc would love to be in our poistion nowadays.
No? 🤞
You highlighted the problem with KSE, interested in profit not the same interest as their US clubs.
Arteta should have never been given a new contract until the end of his 1st contract I was on board with give hime, his time is up.
Beginning of last season there were 3 managers at new clubs and all won the title. Slot, Hansi Flick and Conte that is what experience brings and the results for making a name as a powerhouse. Last season we were picked by the pundits to win the title, this season they put us 3rd behind Pool and City.
Football is a results driven business and if you don’t get it you are shown the exit door.
MD – Gunner, so, after finishing second in the PL and getting to the semi final of the CL abdespite our horrendous injury problems, would you have offered Mikel a new contract?
If not, why not?
@MD-Gunner
And about the Hale Enders not signing contracts under Arteta.
What was he meant to say or do in order to keep all of them? We had so many of them coming out at the same time asking / demanding for first team reassurance or they will leave (Obi, Heaven, Nwaneri, Skelly, Beth, Hutchinson, Cozier Duberry, Miguel Azziz, Walters etc). And since leaving for their nee clubs I am yet to see them in those teams first teams. And are they going to be part of those those clubs First team squads? May be Obi but Man United seem to be searching for a new striker themselves right now.
And also, in the last 20 or so years, can you list the names of the Hale Enders that have broke into our first team and went on to retain those spots? May be just Jack Wilshere? But can’t seem to remember many. Iwobi was hyped up by our fans but then it’s the same fans that pelted him out. They called him all sorts of degrading names for beint so average.
Akpom, J.E.T, Afobe etc?
Joe Willock was the next hype thing, Arteta tried to give him a chance and the same fans treated him like they did Iwobi. Hounded him out with demeaning terms (Average, Championship level, blah blah).
Balogun- Not the quality of striker to take us anywhere. Got sold for good money £40 million. And I don’t know if he has been pulling down any trees at his new club in France.
Eddy Nketia. Our fans couldn’t stop waxing lyrical about him from our academy. He was the next big thing. Why is Arteta not trusting Nketia but trust Willian etc. Arteta tries to integrate him into the team and the same fans turn around and pelt Nketia for being shiiit and Championship level, how Arteta like average players blah blah. But it was the same individual that hyped him up through the youth / academy. 🤣🤣
Maitland Niles – I dont even know what he was good at and where he is right now.
Nelson – I dont know what he is all about.. The fans were ready for him to be shipped off last summer.
ESR – Always injured and seemed to not fit Arteta’s style. Went to Fulham and continued his injury problems.
Now that leave Saka, Nwaneri, Skelly..
So, for more than 20 years we have produced Wilshere, Saka and Skelly as serious first team mainstayers.
Nwaneri is still IN and OUT of the team currently.
Nearly each summer for more than 20 years we release about 20 players from our Youth System. This summer we have done the same, we have release about 20 players from our with system.
😊👍
David, I agree with you 100%.
Agree with David above.
The PL is incredibly competitive and expensive and we do not want to get into and Arms race.
Instead we look to PSG who have shown everyone how you can win with a cohesive, system based team approach while forgoing some star power. Ousame Dembele was signed for 50 mil. ( Ligue 1 player of the season with 21 goals in L1 and 8 in CL )
In comparison, Jonathan David with Lille had 16 goals in L1 and 7 in CL against the worlds best teams. And, he is younger and costs less, presently 45 – 60 mil ?
Our squad is already strong and ten more goals in league play could be an extra 15 points.
I believe Martin Zubimendi and Jonathan David for a total 120 mil. would amount to more than 10 extra goals in a season because these players are more engaging on the pitch than a single, stand alone striker.
Like most, I am eagerly awaiting to see who we sign, but l will only judge once the window is closed. Liverpool are doing their business early with a focused shopping list. I understand the delay on Zubimendi but l am somewhat miffed regarding our lack of clarity and movement for a striker. While the need for a top striker is all the talk, we also need a top class winger IMO.
Yet more negativity. Pre season doesn’t start until July. There is plenty of time. Zubi is basically done, backup GK is basically done, progress being made on the striker. Arsenal are sitting pretty well.
The entitlement from some of you is staggeringly childish.
💯
Why do you see it as “entitlement” and “childish” Sxrubbychubby (love the handle!!)?
The question is, why are pool, city115 and manure able to secure big signings, mostly all in the areas that we need to invest in, with sterling values around same mark as we are looking to pay, while we don’t seem able to do the same?
That’s not entitlement or childish, it’s a genuine question and it’s happened for years at our club.
You pose an interesting question Ken1945 however, I’m not sure that lightning speed in getting deals across the line is absolutely relevant. It certainly would be if the players that the other clubs have already purchased were on our shopping list and we failed to land them but I’m not aware that they were. The clubs you listed have a higher stock than Arsenal- even though Utd have been in disarray. They are more appealing destinations
Overall, there is a sense of entitlement- the wanting it here and now. If the rumours are correct then Zubimendi’s signing is being delayed at the request of RS. Arsenal are often notoriously quiet about their targets If as you say that Arsenal have dithered over a large number of years, then it begs the question- why?
The million dollar question SueP, but there’s no denying it’s always been the case is there?
If it was a live televised football match, put your hand on the lens of the camera: Wirtz to Liverpool their 2nd signing. City and Chelsea more than 4 each already. Arsenal 0 (zero). Even the comical Man Utd already found a player to sign for them despite destiny EuroExit.
Admin excellent title for your article. Even no need to go through the article. Above everything it is tantamount to disrespecting the season ticket buyers not to sign a single player in the first window. Unpreparedness! Indicates the scattered gun approach and lack of strategic and visionary recruitment policy of Arteta and co.
Again, Ambachew, why are you saying it’s “disrespecting the” season ticket buyers? ”
I didn’t renew my ticket because I believed we were going to make signings and it IS disrespectful to think that is the case.
I agree it’s frustrating to watch our rivals strengthening their squads, but let’s wait and see what happens before we disrespect the club.
I am sorry, but I cannot but find this search for a center forward exasperating.
Will we see Gorky Park for training, or will the Sesco Kid ride to our rescue?
Again, I emphasize, Arteta cannot afford to get this hire wrong, maybe THAT is why there is so much procrastination and it is NOT all about the money.