Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to bring four new signings this summer to further enhance his squad with a new-look team likely for next season.
Arteta’s three-and-a-half years at the helm has seen a revolution of the Gunners squad, with seven of the regular starters this campaign being brought to the club during the Spaniard’s tenure in the dugout.
The North London side are two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand, but concerns remain over the squad’s depth and the possibility that absentees could hit hard in the closing months of the campaign in comparison to rivals.
Arteta is known to prefer working with a small squad but is keen to bolster his ranks ahead of next campaign with the addition of four new signings who can compete directly for first-team spots and allow a greater element of rotation in cup competitions.
The area of midfield is of a particular area of attention, with the midfielder’s three deeper sitting midfield options – Jorginho, 31, Thomas Partey, 29, and Granit Xhaka, 31 – all at a stage of their careers where they require greater rotation.
As reported by The Times, the Gunners are prepared to sign not only one but two central midfielders. They will follow up their interest in Moises Caicedo – whom they unsuccessfully attempted to sign in the summer – alongside an approach for West Ham captain Declan Rice, who is out of contract the following year.
Have Your Say! Who should Arsenal try to sign this summer? Tell us what you think here.
That would give Arteta plenty of options in the heart of the pitch but Rice and Caicedo would both play prominent roles in such a scenario, but Jorginho, Partey and Xhaka would retain key status in the squad – enough to handle a testing season that could exceed 60 matches.
The same is true of Arsenal's reported interest in Barcelona winger Raphinha, whom they attempted to sign last summer from Leeds before he choose the Camp Nou.
However, he has struggled to secure a regular starting role with Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres among those also competing for the position on the right flank of attack.
That is Raphinha’s preferred position but he is also adept on the left flank, and Barca’s need for money from player sales could see the Brazilian cashed in upon. He could operate on the opposite winger of Bukayo Saka, with Martin Odegaard in a deeper role and Gabriel Jesus leading the line – with Eddie Nketiah proving he is capable of stepping up to the mark in the case of rotation.
Arsenal’s back five – goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale alongside defenders Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko – is likely to remain settled, with the Gunners keen to sign a back-up left-back to compete with the Ukrainian, with Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares among those who may depart this summer.
Possible Arsenal XI for 2023/24 season: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Caicedo; Saka, Jesus, Raphinha
