It’s not exactly now or never for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, but there is a growing expectation that the 2024/25 season could finally be the campaign they overhaul Manchester City and land the Premier League title. It was final day heartbreak in May for the Gunners, missing out on glory by just two points and being confined to the runners-up position for the second successive year.
Since taking over in December in 2019 Arteta has undoubtedly built a squad capable of challenging the elite, but is still certain to be active in the summer transfer market as he bids to further bolster his options.
Despite ending 2023/24 as the leading scorers in the top flight, the widespread perception remains that the Gunners lack of firepower and clinical ability cost them dear this time around.
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Arteta has already secured his first signing since the transfer window opened on June 14, albeit one already on board. Rather than address the striker situation, the club have made David Raya’s loan move permanent in a £27million deal.
Raya became firmly established as the No.1 after arriving from Brentford last season, and the latest development is likely to see Aaron Ramsdale sold to help fund further transfers. No exit can be sanctioned until the England keeper returns from Germany though, with the FA putting regulations in place to prevent players being approached while on England duty this summer.
Defensively Arteta doesn’t need to panic. The return to fitness of Jurrien Timber will bolster his options, while the partnership of Gabriel and Williams Saliba has flourished. The future of Oleksandr Zinchenko is up in the air though, having been out-performed by Takehiro Tomiyasu in the title run-in.
Arsenal fans will want big money spent further up the pitch. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has emerged as one of the main performers of Euro 2024, the AC Milan player pivotal in Holland’s run to the last-eight.
And given Thomas Partey’s ongoing injury issues, Reijnders appears the perfect foil for Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, and could potentially free up both players to roam forward more often. His range of passing would also add an extra dimension going forward, and it is of no surprise the 25-year-old has already been touted as an ideal player for Arteta.
Where the manager must be really get ruthless though is with his front three. The work rate and endeavour of Gabriel Jesus has not translated into goals and a sale this summer would still command a healthy fee.
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It would also pave the way for Arteta to go all out to land Ivan Toney and another Dutch star in Xavi Simons. The Brentford man being flanked by Simons, who was loaned out by PSG last season, and Bukayo Saka would form a front three capable of causing chaos against any opposition.
Kai Havertz , Gabriel Martinelli and Leonardo Trossard would remain as viable alternatives over the course of a long, gruelling campaign both domestically and in Europe, with Eddie Nketiah likely to be surplus to requirements. It would all mean a starting XI, and squad, that will have Pep Guardiola that little bit more anxious come August.
Dream Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Tomiyasu; Rice, Odegaard, Reijnders; Simons, Toney, Saka.