The tears in Mikel Arteta’s eyes on Wednesday night reflected the sheer weight of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
It was the most emotional Arteta has been seen after a match this season, as he resorted to delusional talk of the Gunners being the best side in the competition and how the PSG bench told him his side deserved to win.
In truth, the crux of the loss reverts back to why the north London club were defeated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals last season, and to why Liverpool usurped them to the Premier League title in this campaign with games to spare — a lack of firepower up top.
Injuries to a number of key players including Kai Havertz and Gabriel have clearly been a burden, though it is the club’s inability to buy a forward player in the previous two transfer windows which has gone some way to a fifth year without a trophy for Arteta.
With rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea having all seized silverware in that period, the feeling among Gooners is one of frustration, no matter the progression from eighth place in the league to being on the cusp of lifting a trophy.
‘Next time’ can only suffice for so long; ‘we’re so nearly there’ a plaster which eventually comes off. It begs the question: what next for Arsenal?
Mikel Arteta was emotional as he has been all season after Arsenal’s defeat to PSG
The absence of Kai Havertz through injury has led to Arsenal missing firepower up front
Brazilian defender Gabriel’s injury deprived Arsenal of a key source of set-piece goals
Thus far, they are a club which get so close to getting their hands on a trophy — Arteta mimicked doing this with a water bottle at his post-match press conference on Wednesday — but ultimately have not been able to get over the final hurdle.
For all of Arteta’s defensiveness, there is an acceptance by the Spaniard, new sporting director Andrea Berta and the club that serious investment in the frontline is needed this summer.
A striker is their priority, with left wing next on the list. Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, highly admired by Arteta and other key figures, is the dream target — though unlikely.
He would wipe out most of their transfer budget, and the move is made even more improbable now with the Toon club likely to secure Champions League football next season.
The two frontmen being predominantly pursued are RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon.
It’s understood that Sporting Lisbon are currently searching for a new striker and expect Gyokeres to leave this summer.
Because the Portuguese side are demanding a price in excess of £70 million, the Swede’s options are limited to a few clubs with the financial power and willingness to spend that on a single player.
Arsenal is one such team, Berta said to admire Gyokeres from his time working at Atletico Madrid.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is Arsenal’s dream target but will likely prove too expensive
Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are alternative striker targets
New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta approaches a vital first summer transfer window
But internally, views are torn on whether the striker can hit the ground running in the Premier League as the Primeira Liga is a different proposition, even though he has scored 38 league goals this season.
It’s understood that Manchester United are also interested in the player, manager Ruben Amorim having worked with Gyokeres when he was Sporting boss.
Slovenia international Sesko has struck 26 goals in this campaign and at 21 years old, presents an ideal profile for future growth. The Gunners have also previously done much of the groundwork on a potential Sesko deal.
In terms of left wing, Nico Williams is the number one priority. The position is an area the Gunners have looked at strengthening since last year, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard their current main options.
It was seen as light then and is set to be even more bare next season, with Trossard again exploring a move to the Saudi Pro League who have previously expressed interest.
At 30 and with one more year left on his contract, it’s understood that he sees now as the opportune time to get a final lucrative contract and play regularly. The north London club would not stand in his way.
Going back to Williams, he is seen by Arsenal as the ideal player to compete with Martinelli who has been hot and cold in this campaign. Though it’s complicated by Chelsea, who are understood to be interested in the Atletico Bilbao player.
If that move becomes impossible, other names on the Arsenal list for left wing are understood to include AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
Both Bukayo Saka and William Saliba will need to be tied down to new long-term contracts
Martin Zubimendi looks likely to be Arsenal’s first transfer signing of the upcoming summer
Nico Williams has been an Arsenal target for some time to compete with Gabriel Martinelli
The other avenue Arsenal are looking to secure is the key spine of their current team.
The contracts of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel all expire in two years, which will alert clubs across Europe.
The club are relaxed about the contract situation of Saka, who they expect will sign a new long-term deal this summer.
It is the Saliba situation where there is apprehension. Real Madrid are keen on the Frenchman and have started to ramp up their public interest in him.
The 24-year-old’s key motivation is winning trophies. With the Gunners going another season without silverware, securing his long-term future becomes more complicated.
If he were to move, that would leave a huge gap costing tens of millions to replace.
The Gunners are well within PSR limits so have the capacity to spend — but are also looking to offload a number of squad players to bolster their summer war chest.
They have already lined up Martin Zubimendi, the midfielder expected to join from Real Sociedad and replace Jorginho who is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo.
Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko is a prime candidate to leave Arsenal in the transfer window
Winger Leandro Trossard has been the subject of strong interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia
15-year-old Max Dowman is an exciting prospect who is expected to move up to the first team
At least an estimated £80 million is being targeted from Arsenal players sales in the coming window, to add to the reserves already built up from last summer in which the outgoings of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and others created close to £100m.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is eyeing an exit to Borussia Dortmund, a move which was explored in January. With the emergence of 18-year-old left back Myles Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko has fallen further down the pecking order and is set to leave.
Attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira, currently on loan at Porto, is not in Arteta’s first-team plans. Ever since joining the Gunners for £30m in June 2022, he has not gained a foothold in the team.
He made just four league starts in the 2022-23 campaign, and could attract around £20-25m.
Nuno Tavares, on loan at Lazio, has a buyout clause of around £7m which the Serie A team are set to trigger. That includes a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
Sambi Lokonga is on loan at La Liga side Sevilla, who have a £10m buy option — the club have yet to decide upon triggering this. The player has a 25 per cent sell-on clause.
Reiss Nelson, who is currently back at Arsenal to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered while on loan at Fulham, does not have a buy option in his deal with the Cottagers.
Though he is on £100,000-per-week wages, a hefty amount for a player who is on the fringes of Arteta’s starting line-up. He is also earmarked for a permanent transfer elsewhere this summer.
- Oleksandr Zinchenko
- Fabio Vieira
- Nuno Tavares
- Sambi Lokonga
- Reiss Nelson
- Jakub Kiwior
Reiss Nelson returned to Arsenal after injury cut short his loan with rivals Fulham
Earlier in the season, Arsenal had planned to sell Jakub Kiwior this summer. On the back of his recent performances, having occupied the bench for most of this campaign, there is the temptation to keep him but the club are mindful that he will attract a larger fee than say a couple of months ago.
Overall, that is a hefty chunk of money to be capitalised upon.
Attacking midfield is another area which could do with some attention, but Arteta is confident that 15-year-old Max Dowman can provide depth in the future.
He is expected to go on Arsenal’s Asia pre-season tour, with a view to being part of the first-team squad next season.
So the Gunners to-do list for this summer runs long — but remains the difference between silverware or another season as the bridesmaid.
