The Gunners signalled their intent by appointing Andrea Berta as sporting director in March. They will now continue the revamp of the recruitment team by adding top scout Matteo Tognozzi to their ranks. These additions have made their intentions crystal clear, the club will actively look to strengthen the playing squad during the transfer window.
The need to add reinforcements has been necessitated by a number of telling factors. Another failure to bag a major trophy for the first time in five years is arguably the biggest. The Arsenal squad is simply in need of strengthening.
Position-wise, the club has identified a centre-forward as the top priority, followed by another forward addition,preferably on the wings, then a midfielder.
The first part of the transfer window closed on 10th June, and Arsenal failed to welcome any new faces. But that hasn’t stopped an excited fanbase from dreaming. To many, there’s already a clear picture of what a successful transfer window looks like. However, there is a possibility that the club will fail to make the most of it.
History suggests caution
Considering the failings of the last two windows, such an outcome doesn’t look far-fetched.
In the summer of 2024, the Gunners brought in five players, two of which were the signings of Raheem Sterling and Neto on loan. We all know how that went. The jury is still out on the additions of Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, in my opinion. That leaves David Raya as the only clear success from that window.
Little can be said for the January transfer window that followed. The board failed to bring in a single addition, in spite of the blatant pleas for help from Mikel Arteta amid an ongoing injury crisis.
All things considered, fans would be naive to think it won’t happen again this summer. There have already been concerns from a growing number within the fanbase about the transfer activity of our rivals.
The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool have all added to their squads early on, while Manchester City have strengthened considerably.
What would define a failed window?
Arsenal will definitely add to their squad in due time, but what would represent a woeful transfer window by the club?
In my view, missing out on a striker automatically guarantees failure, given the well-documented issues in attack. However, there are plenty of other scenarios that could result in a less-than-ideal summer for the Gunners.
Any of these scenarios fall under failure to strengthen, both in quality and depth. With that in mind, the window will end in disappointment if the club fails to improve both the standard of the starting XI and the strength of the bench.
For a club looking to lift major honours, doing just one won’t suffice. Arsenal must address both issues to give themselves a better chance of finishing the 2025–26 season with silverware.
What would represent a woeful transfer window from the Gunners for you?
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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Personally, I think anything less than a striker, defensive midfielder and a back up GK would be a borderline disaster of a transfer window, especially if we lose any players without replacements coming in.
A decent window would be to add a left winger to the previous three.
A great window would see us get those four and an extra centre back and then either a back up for Saka or Odegaard, depending on where Nwaneri plays next season.
Additionally, not losing any players bar the expected loanees, Zinchenko and Jesus if possible.
All players fit thats a great squad, hopefully Arteta will rotate regularly and nobody gets overplayed to the point of injury.
Spot on, Cesc. But it’s important we don’t lose GJesus. Our squad still lacks depth—we’re already short, and we don’t have enough top-quality options coming off the bench to really make an impact in games.
Raya, Kepa
Bwhite, Wsaliba, Gmagalhaes,Jtimber, Rcalifiori,Jkiwior,Ttomiyasu
Mzubimendi, Tpartey,MLskelly
Modegaard,Drice, Mmerino,Mdowman
Enwaneri,Bsaka,Gmartinelli,Ltrossard,
++ left winger,++ creative midfielder
Khavertz,Gjesus,
Sesko/gyokerez
The transfer window would be awful if Arsenal can’t sign all their main targets, i.e. Zubimendi and Sesko or Gyokeres
We could also still lose Saka and Saliba, since they haven’t signed yet
I don’t think we need to worry about Saka and Saliba this window. I can definitely see Saliba going to Madrid next summer – IF he doesn’t re-sign. If that’s the case, we should probably be considering signing a backup RCB as Kiwior plus Timber and White, as great as they all are, aren’t enough cover.
Success:
5/10: Zubimendi and Kepa of course would be two excellent additions. Decent start.
7-8/10: A high quality striker for getting through those pesky mid table teams. Window would be moderately successful. Sesko is for me the very successful end of the spectrum talked about.
10/10: The left wing. I think this position could become even more important if we don’t get Sesko, Gyokeres (or Watkins), all of them tend to attack a lot via the center left channel. Capture a level up on Nelli, and it’s a stellar window.
This club is not serious!
Zubimendi is done apparently so it comes down to that one position we have neglected for 6 years if we get that filled with one of the targets we have in mind then we might stand a chance next year .
Left back?
Yea forgot about that one 😂
2 for good measure?
Without identifying any particular player, I’d say a woeful window would be not getting the target(s) that we’ve already taken for granted as signed.
A woeful transfer window would be ignoring any weak areas of the squad, especially the starting XI.
I expect the signings of:
A backup GK to replace Neto (likely Kepa)
A DM to replace Jorginho (likely Zubimendi)
A CF to rotate with Havertz (likely Sesko)
Nothing more
If there’s still cash left, we could get bonus (maybe loan) signings in form of:
A winger
A left-back
For me a woeful transfer window will be if Arteta and Bertha don’t address all the area’s that need addressing.
Now we all know what they are, but I’m interested to know if by the end of this window whether Arteta and Bertha do.
If the answer is no, then just expect the same old, same old.🤷♂️
A woeful transfer window is starting the season with either Martineli or Trossard..
Forget center forward.. that’s the poorest department we have at the moment..
We urgently need another Saka at left wing more than anything
There are loads of ways to have a failed transfer window. I can’t take that question seriously
I doubt that the intention was for it to be taken seriously. It’s just a “what if?” question.
We all know what we need in this transfer window, it’s not rocket science, the tragedy would be if we don’t get the signings in early enough to integrate them into the squad rather than our usual way of signing players at the end of the transfer window after the season has started.
If don’t buy a top class striker always loads of rumours but hope the one going plan c for Watkins is not true decent but not top draw plus the age as well will represent no sell on value
I think we still need a player that can carry the ball from midfield to the front line and all the most glaring issues as well.
Someone that will grab the game by the scruff of the neck and do something with the ball and not comply to this dreadful possession based tactic. Could be 7, 8, 10 or 11, I’m not fussed.
If we don’t get a striker, it’s not good. We need at least 4 signings- LW, CDM,ST and GK. If we have any money left over we should invest it in squad depth, e.g. LB.
To fill these positions we will hopefully get:
Rodrygo as LW
Zubimendi as CDM
Gyokeres as ST
Kepa as GK
A positive summer window?
Zubimendi, Gyokeres, Sesko, Watkins and Kepa.
A negative summer window?
Skelly, Nwaneri and Saliba not signing new contracts and not signing two strikers.
The 2nd one is more likely
Arsenal as a club stood still and let moment pass them by