Mikel Arteta has sent Arsenal a ‘really important’ transfer plea but admits it may be difficult for the Emirates Stadium outfit to realise his ‘ideal’ scenario in the summer.
The Gunners will look to roll the dice once more in the off-season after securing high-profile deals in the past two summer sales. Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived in north London in 2022 and transformed Arsenal. The duo helped Arteta build a title-chasing squad.
Arteta went even bigger in the summer of 2023, as well, as Arsenal secured Declan Rice in a club-record transfer. Kai Havertz and David Raya also left the west of the capital to go to the north of the city. Arsenal also signed Jurrien Timber but he suffered an ACL injury in August.
Mikel Arteta tells Arsenal it is ‘really important’ to secure their summer transfers early
Swoops for Havertz, Timber and Rice to move to Emirates Stadium fell into place early in the summer. Each player took part in Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the USA and started to gain a role in Arteta’s squad. Brentford did not let Raya go on loan with an option buy until August.
Now, Arteta has pleaded for Arsenal to replicate their successful shopping from last summer and secure their transfers early again. Havertz was the first player to arrive in north London when he left Chelsea in June. Timber and Rice arrived from AFC Ajax and West Ham in July.
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But while it would be ‘ideal’ if Arsenal secure any signings early, Arteta admits the club may struggle this year. Euro 2024 and the Copa America may delay the Gunners’ plans as players represent their countries over the two off-season tournaments from mid-June until mid-July.
“That’s the ideal scenario,” Arteta said in his press conference this Friday. “Every club wants that. We want that as coaches and for the players especially you want that, and then for the team and the environment.
“When you do that, something clicks, something starts to build and that’s really important because it starts to give you momentum. We have the Euros this season and Copa America, and it might be a different summer.”
Euro 2024 may delay Mikel Arteta from signing his top midfield target, Martin Zubimendi
Arteta has moved early to identify some of Arsenal’s targets for the summer transfer market at least. Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is Arteta’s top target for a new striker, per The Independent. Real Sociedad anchor Martin Zubimendi is also Arteta’s top target in midfield.
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According to Dean Jones, Arteta further hopes that his influence will convince Zubimendi to quit Real Sociedad for Arsenal. But Euro 2024 can delay the Gunners’ efforts as the 25-year-old is a regular part of Spain’s squads. Yet Arsenal will not face the same obstacles with Isak.
Sweden failed to qualify for Euro 2024, so the only hurdles stopping Arteta signing Isak will be Arsenal meeting Newcastle’s valuation and convincing the striker to join. Magpies coach Eddie Howe is determined to keep Isak and has claimed there is no desire at his club to sell.