Mikel Arteta's "very clear" Arsenal summer transfer strategy with plans already in place

Unlike some of his contemporaries in the Premier League, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta isn't afraid to go into detail about transfer strategy.

The Spaniard was clear that the priority in January was to trim his squad, with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac all shipped out.

And with months until the window reopens at the end of the season, Arteta has claimed plans are already in place for an active summer.

“We are planning everything for the summer, the same with the board, with [chief executive] Vinai [Venkatesham], with [non-executive director] Tim [Lewis], and with the owners,” the Gunners boss told Sky Sports.

Mikel Arteta managed to grab his No.1 target last summer, in the shape of Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“We are very clear on how we want to do it.

“When you have to change 10 or 12 things in one window [as in January] it's a lot, and that has some consequences with what has happened in previous months and what is going to happen in the following months.

“We still have quite a lot of things to do, but we will get to the point, hopefully, where it's just ticking off a few things and the stability is there, because you need that as well to be consistent and be competitive.”

The Spaniard has claimed plans are already in place (Offside via Getty Images)

Asked how far away Arsenal were from being a 'Mikel Arteta team' the former midfielder claimed there was lots of work to do. And while he is keen to bring in new recruits, he won't do it at the expense of the players already at the club.

Arteta has spoken glowingly about academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe and is adamant any transfer activity will be geared around 'protecting and improving' their current talents.

He added: “It's about doing things in the right moments, when they can shine, when they need protected and when they have the right players around them as well.

“It's not about playing all the young players in every game, but we are putting a plan together, so they have space around the squad, space in the team, and we have the right flow between the players so they can become really important at the club. That path is being created.”

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