It was always going to be a defining summer transfer window for Arsenal.
After a third successive campaign as Premier League runners-up, the Gunners had no choice but to get their business right — particularly with rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea having significantly bolstered their squads.
Six players have arrived, including the much-needed No 9 Viktor Gyokeres, a new defensive midfielder in Martin Zubimendi and a quartet of new faces that will act as competition for places in the starting lineup.
And they are not done yet.
This summer window has prevented them from falling further behind the pack, yes, but further work must be done to ensure Mikel Arteta’s men are right in the mix for a first league title since 2004.
Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN examines Arsenal’s window so far and what could happen over the next month.
Viktor Gyokeres is the headline signing of Arsenal’s summer, having joined for £63.5million
Martin Zubimendi is a big coup. He was courted by Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City
1. What have Arsenal done so far?
New sporting director Andrea Berta has delivered in terms of incomings. He arrived in March with the club in a state of flux after the shock departure of Edu but has hit the ground running.
Midfielder Christian Norgaard (£15million), defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13m), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m) and forward Noni Madueke (£52m) have all been signed to bolster the squad and challenge existing stars.
Norgaard adds depth in midfield after the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho, and Mosquera is a handy option at the back who can play multiple positions and has room for growth aged 21. Arrizabalaga is a cheap but strong back-up to David Raya.
Madueke is an intriguing signing for the frontline, which has split a fanbase that is anxious about their mixed record of signing players from Chelsea, whereas Zubimendi (£51m) represents a real coup having previously been courted by Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City.
But it’s the capture of Gyokeres (£63.5m) that represents the biggest scalp. Arsenal have been crying out for a striker for years and the situation came to a head in January after Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz sustained long-term injuries.
The 27-year-old Sweden striker was courted by a number of clubs and provides the Gunners with something they have long lacked: a finisher. Havertz was their highest league goalscorer last season on nine goals, Arsenal’s lowest in 101 years.
That is a problem that Gyokeres, who scored 97 goals in two seasons at Sporting Lisbon, should fix.
Brentford’s Christian Norgaard has joined for £15million as a back-up defensive midfielder
Cristhian Mosquera (right) has arrived to challenge William Saliba and Gabriel at centre back
2. What do they still need to do?
Buy a left winger. If Arsenal can do this, it will be one heck of a window for Berta in his first transfer window in the post.
Arsenal still look short of attacking creativity, even with the arrival of Madueke who can play in different positions across the front line. Many times last season Arteta’s side dominated possession but were unable to break down opponents.
But Arsenal’s No 1 priority right now is shifting unwanted players out of the door. Until they can do that, no more pricey signings will be made.
Noni Madueke can play across the front line but Arsenal still need to bring in a left-sided winger
3. Is there enough money and financial headroom left to do what they need?
Arsenal have spent nearly £190m this summer but that doesn’t mean they are done.
Their position with regard to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) is strong, driven by record revenues (£616m) and profits on player sales (£50m) for the year ending May 31, 2024. It is understood the Gunners could make a loss of at least £85m and still be safe from breaching PSR rules.
However, one of the key focuses of the Kroenke family, Arsenal’s owners, is sustainability and spending within their means. That doesn’t mean they will not back Arteta, but they are keen to bring in money first having only recouped around £10m this summer, with the sales of Nuno Tavares and Marquinhos.
There will therefore be serious push to sell players in this window to ensure they can keep chasing the players they want.
4. Who are they targeting?
Despite the influx of signings, Arsenal’s business is not finished. They remain interested in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who they see as an option on the left wing and at No 10 – the position he plays most for Palace in Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system.
Arsenal have an open dialogue with Eze’s representatives and the player has a £68m release clause with two years left on his contract. The clause is understood to expire two weeks before the window closes on September 1.
Mail Sport understands a move for Eze will only be possible if significant sales are made, and that any potential move would only happen later in the window.
Another target is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who the club do admire, though Eze is higher up in the pecking order.
Arsenal are in talks with the representatives of Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze, a key target
Another target is Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, but Eze remains Arsenal’s preferred option
5. Who is heading for the exit?
Reiss Nelson has showed glimpses of his talent on the pre-season tour of Asia. The same has happened in seasons gone by, where the forgotten man has turned up with a point to prove during pre-season.
But Arsenal are looking to get the academy graduate, and his approximate £100,000-a-week wages, off the books. Fulham are in talks over a loan move for the winger, who has two years left on his Gunners contract but spent last season at Craven Cottage. Arsenal would prefer a permanent move in order to bring in money but a loan would be better for them than Nelson staying.
Fulham want to take Reiss Nelson on loan again after he spent last season at Craven Cottage
Oleksandr Zinchenko (second right) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (furthest right) are up for sale
Oleksandr Zinchenko is also for sale, with Fulham again interested. The Ukrainian, who earns £150,000 a week at the Emirates, has fallen down the pecking order following the signing of Riccardo Calafiori and the emergence of teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly at left back.
Fabio Vieira has been in the shop window for some time. He went on loan to Porto last season and has since been usurped in attacking midfield by Ethan Nwaneri, with highly rated 15-year-old Max Dowman set to push him further down the order. Arsenal are particularly keen to find Vieira a move, with West Ham interested.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is also up for sale. With Leandro Trossard, Mail Sport reported in May that Arsenal have been in talks with the winger over a new deal that would tie him to the club until 2029.
Yet the player is still stalling over the contract and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing the Belgian, who has scored 28 goals in 124 games for Arsenal since joining from Brighton in January 2023.