Arsenal may still have a few games left to play, but their season is effectively over after a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final ensured they will end trophyless again.
The Gunners performed well in Europe, but their domestic form has been a major disappointment. After running Manchester City close in consecutive Premier League seasons, they haven’t got near this year’s champions, Liverpool.
A crucial transfer window awaits under new sporting director Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta will hope that the Italian can successfully strengthen his squad ahead of a renewed push for silverware in 2025-26.
Here’s how Arsenal’s summer is shaping up.
Benjamin Sesko, RB Leipzig
That Arsenal are actively targeting a new striker is the worst-kept secret in English football. A lack of firepower has cost Arteta’s side time and again, including in the semi-final loss to PSG.
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The three main strikers in the frame at this stage appear to be Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.
Isak is prohibitively expensive and Newcastle are guaranteed to be hostile sellers; Gyokeres has been prolific at Sporting Lisbon and has experience of the English game, albeit in the second-tier; he also turns 27 in June, and a move for him carries an element of risk. Darwin Nunez also scored for fun in Portugal.
Which leaves Sesko. Having watched the young Slovenian live in the flesh twice at last summer’s Euros, I think he’d be perfect for Arsenal.
A former basketball prodigy, Sesko is tall, robust and mobile, a fine finisher who packs a vicious shot from outside the box. He’s scored 21 goals for an average RB Leipzig team this season and, at 21 (22 by the end of the month), has plenty of room for improvement.
Martin Zubimendi, Real Sociedad
A deal that looks likely to happen and a coup if it does, given Liverpool were very keen on taking Zubimendi from Real Sociedad last summer.
Arteta’s insatiable quest for control in the middle of the park makes Arsenal’s interest in the Euro 2024 winner logical, given his efficiency in possession.
The last few months have proven beyond doubt that Declan Rice’s best position is as a No 8 and Arsenal need a new screener to sit behind him with Jorginho set to depart and Thomas Partey yet to commit to a new deal.
Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao
Arsenal’s strange reluctance to splash the cash on their attack is not limited to the centre forward position. They have only bought two wingers – Leandro Trossard and Marquinhos – during the Arteta era. Raheem Sterling has been a disastrous loan signing.
Williams is a match-winner (Photo: AP)Buying a top-class winger to challenge Gabriel Martinelli would elevate Arsenal. Nico Williams certainly falls into that category and reportedly has a tempting £49m release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract, making him a bargain in the current market.
Williams has provided five goals and assists apiece in La Liga (in 21 starts) this season and, as showcased in Germany last summer, can be a match-winning attacker on his day.
Mikkel Damsgaard, Brentford
The type of player that Arsene Wenger would have been all over circa 2008.
Damsgaard took a while to settle in the Premier League but has had a magnificent season for Brentford. Only Mo Salah (with 18) and Jacob Murphy (11) can better his 10 assists.
Martin Odegaard’s form and influence have declined dramatically, partly because he plays virtually every game, given the lack of alternatives in the squad.
Damsgaard would be an ideal competitor for the creative midfield role and could be available with Thomas Frank admitting that departures from Brentford are likely.
Joan Garcia, Espanyol
Complacency has crept into Arsenal’s league form of late and nowhere has that been more apparent than in goal, where David Raya has been sloppy with his passing and casual with his positioning.
Raya won his battle against Aaron Ramsdale but would benefit from more competition next season with Neto signed as a stop-gap this season.
Espanyol’s Joan Garcia has long been linked with a move to north London and has had a strong season. He has made by far the most saves (130) in La Liga, while his save percentage rate is bettered only by Jan Oblak, Unai Simon and Thibaut Courtois.
Who should they sell?
Jakub Kiwior
Kiwior has deputised ably for Gabriel Magalhaes over the past couple of months, producing performances that nobody really expected him capable of.
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The Pole has proven himself a fine backup but is unlikely to be content with dropping back down to the bench when Gabriel is fit again.
There have long been suitors for him in Serie A, with Napoli one of the clubs monitoring his situation with interest. Arsenal may decide to sell while his stock is high.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Helped to raise Arsenal’s level upon arriving from Manchester City in 2022, but has struggled to keep up as the evolution has gathered speed.
With Myles Lewis-Skelly, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber all ahead of him in the left-back pecking order, there’s no real need to keep the Ukrainian around.
Gabriel Jesus
As above. Jesus hit the ground running in north London after arriving the same summer as Zinchenko, but has only sporadically looked like the solution to their striker issues.
Injuries have curtailed his progress and he is now stuck in the same boom-and-bust cycle that defined his time at Manchester City.
Currently sidelined with an ACL injury sustained in January, Jesus is unlikely to go anywhere soon, but suitors should be sounded out ahead of next January if not the following summer.
Leandro Trossard
A recent purple patch has swelled Trossard’s numbers in what has largely been a pretty underwhelming campaign.
The Belgian is a useful squad player owing to his versatility, but not quite of the level to command a regular starting spot.
If Arsenal do spend big on a game-changing winger, they may well be tempted to cash in on the 30-year-old while there is Saudi interest.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Simply too injury-prone to be relied upon. The Japanese defender has only played 84 times across four seasons, making just a solitary appearance in 2024-25.
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