The transfer market is now officially open, and while we believe the Gunners will do their best this summer, we can’t help but make recommendations to them on which deals to close. Here is my transfer wish list.
Above all, I want an alternative to William Saliba, as well as an LCM who can replace Thomas Partey in midfield. Saliba played every minute of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, which is not sustainable; we cannot continue to be overly reliant on him to play every game in every competition again next season. Arteta needs another central defender to join his project.
With Partey’s frequent injuries, it’s unlikely that he’ll be available for the entire season. And since Arsenal have never fully replaced Xhaka, they could do so this summer.
I’m keen on Arsenal signing a versatile attacker who can play on the left or right wing with an eye for goal because we need more transition prowess against big boys like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. This winger should be an unstoppable ball carrier with a keen eye for a shot. For that swoop, I’m fine with a move for a versatile option like Pedro Neto; he meets the specified criteria.
A striker swoop would have been ideal, but if we can’t find the proper striker, I’m fine with Kai up front and Gabriel Jesus as an alternative.
Next season, I don’t want us to rely too heavily on Jorginho. I’d like us to ease him out of the team by bringing in a new LCM like Bruno Guimaraes, Joshua Kimmich, or Frenkie De Jong, who can partner with Declan Rice and drive the Arsenal engine room to new heights.
Even if Aaron Ramsdale leaves, I don’t mind having two top goalies, and I want us to solidify our interest in Real Madrid goalie Andriy Lunin, who has been linked with us and is likely to join us. On top of all of this, if we still have finances, I’d like us to pursue some other deals, including obtaining a top-left back. Last season, the position underperformed, and while Jurrien Timber and Tomiyasu can fill it next season, I wouldn’t mind adding a specialist to play there.
Ultimately, similar to last summer, we may need to spend more than £200 million to adequately enhance the team this season, depending on how well we sell.
That’s my wishlist; what’s yours?
Peter Rix
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If we are not spending big on a striker I would go for Aleksandar Mitrović as a back up option.
Onana for me in the middle of the park at a good price .
Maybe then promote some youngsters
Mitrovic would have been amazing the season we signed Jesus but I think the ship has sailed with that one. Still an elite bully of a cf with top finishing. Shame nobody picked him up earlier in his career.
Still only 29 ,but agree he’s a top striker and would only cost a small fee ,could do alot worse for some of the figures being quoted for PL strikers IE Isak ,Watkins and Toney .
Just seen he scored 28 goals in 28 matches in the Saudi league last season .
I know it’s not the same quality but he’s done it in the Pl already .
only 29 and scoring in Saudi, sign him now to lead Arsenal to glory!?!??
Silly comment. Not his fault nobody took a punt on him. He got 15 g/a in 24 games the season before for Fulham in the premier league. 58 in 91 for Serbia. Plus Dans point was that we get him as back up to Havertz as a plan B option
I already replied to ii last night but I wasn’t so polite ,hence why it got took down
I do make a mistake with his age though ,now I’ve read he’s 35 😂
No Ive double checked he’s 29
what’s silly about the comment, being 29 and scoring in Saudi is not Arsenal profile, back-up or not, Arsenal needs quality not just bodies
i never mentioned any fault, but do i want Arsenal to punt on this 29 year old now = NO
that is a perfectly reasonable and non-controversial comment about Arsenal striker recruitment
not intimidated by Dan childish insults
Fabrizio Romano said Arsenal have been monitoring Joao Neves for months, but Benfica might insist on £120m fee since his contract will only expire in 2028
My wish list:
– Joshua Zirkzee, because of his hold-up play and aerial ability. He’d likely make us more dominant in the opposition’s area and create more chances for the other attackers
– Douglas Luiz, because of his set-piece skills and he used to train at Man City for three years. He could create many assists and goals from set-pieces for Arsenal
My wish
Youssuf Fofana (Monaco) or
Onana (Everton)
they won’t cost much.
One of Alex Issak, Victor Osimehin
or Victor Gyokeres
We have seen what spending well on DRice brought to the team.
Nkethiah, Pathey, PViera/ESR should be sold to gain some money.
midfield is the priority, rebuild of defensive midfield as aging legs depart and creative alternative to Odegaard
the two midfielders I would like are Douglas Luiz (PL proven, genuine defensive midfielder, set-pieces) and Bruno Guimaraes (PL proven, progressive the call, goal threat), both of them offer power too (c.f. Vieira and Zudimendi)
promoting Nwaneri alongside them
it’s a wishlist right, so I would still like Sesko to join as an alternative across the forward line
promoting Beireth and Odi-Martin alongside him
left back worries me, my wish would be for Zinc to replaced by Hato
but I also wish we don’t go for second best and/or ill-fitting, e.g. Sesko or no-one, go with what we have with academy given opportunities
Wirtz and Musiala and put rice back to 6.
But on a realistic note both the palace lads Eze and Olise can be done for about 130. In this scenario we keep Partey for another term and manage him, never playing two games a week. Eze takes the left wing spot however can roatate with Rice at 8 if needed or against lowly opposition. Olise covers Saka and Odegard and can cover at 8 against lower opposition. Trossard and the the big lad we have out on loan cover Havertz.
I have been saying since the start of the transfer window on just Arsenal. Wirtz and Olise, to overtake ManCity.
Next to Mbappe, WIRTZ is the second best striker in world football.
He should be played further forward in a Bergkamp role to link the forward players. Highly intelligent player, reminds me of a cross between Bergkamp and Henry, perfect for Arsenal. I have chose the two footed Olise over Musiala because he can play on either wing and also through the midfield, plus Musiala would be out of our price bracket. The third player would be the affordable french international defensive midfielder youssouf fortana who would cost a mere £22 million.
So the three players would be WIRTZ, Olise and Fortana.
Enough to add more technical class and up grade Arsenal to overtake ManCity and win Europe.
Wirtz was Germany player of the year, check him out on YouTube, he’s unbelievable. Olise I value as better skilled than Saka, and that’s saying something. Fortana at £22 million would be bargain of the transfer market if we can get him, he also has a great story how he started late in football, similar to Ian Wright.
These are the three players I have been mentioning on just Arsenal for the past three months, let’s hope Arteta reads just Arsenal and values their worth.
You do know Florian Wirtz is a midfielder right? Never gonna happen.
and why would he join Arsenal? Do we have 150m transfer budget for him?
Can you just stop mentioning YouTube dude….. It makes you sound like an amateur
I believe if Arsenal will sign new players this summer window. Which they ought to do anyway. I think they will sign only three new players. Just as they did last summer And use two out of them to replace the duo former Arsenal’s players of: Cedric Soares and Mo Elneny who have all leftt the club last seasonon. The trio DMs of Bruno Guimaraes. Douglas Luiz or Amadou Onana if Arsenal signed one of them. They will use to replace Mo Elneny. And finally. The remaining newly signed two of a defender who SHOULDer a left-back and striker in the defender probably in Kadoglu, Victor Osimhen, Victor Gyokeres and Zirkzee. They use to do an upgrade to the left-back and striker positions of their team squad.
Should we give Havertz another year, promote from the Academy and buy world class youth players with one eye on the future. Or buy WIRTZ, Olise and Fortana for £200 million?
Even if we bought all three Havertz would still start upfront. Put Wirtz left 8 and have Odegard and rice operating as a more defensive players and olise off the left.
oh yeah Arteta is going to change the role of his two best players, Rice and Odegaard, to fit in Wirtz and Olise and whoever, utter nonsense, do you watch Arsenal play managed by Arteta
Well that basically what he did he he had Havertz in midfield!!! Do you watch Arsenal? Because Rice was playing 6 until the Hvaertz experiment failed!!!
Well said Liam
Arsenal1807644672654 seems to think he’s in the inner circle of the Arsenal coaching staff going by his comments these last few weeks ,ignore him he’s an
Absolute plum .
my comment stands, Rice has excelled at #8 since being moved to a more advanced role in the new year
no rationale at all to move him back to #6
for Wirtz or anyone
likewise Odegaard has excelled as our leading creative midfielder, no rationale to move him more defensive role so Olise can play left
I just don’t see how your suggestion of compromising Arsenal’s two best midfielders (Rice and Odegaard) is a good idea
Havertz coming in last summer initially as the #8 as a straight replacement for Xhaka, Rice initially came in at #6 the position he played at West Ham and still does for England
as it turned out Rice moving to #8 and Havertz to #9 in the new year resulted in 12 PL wins, 1 loss and 1 draw – i think it highly unlikely Edu/Arteta would you wish to change that back for two players we don’t have?
not sure why this is considered so controversial???
Martin Zubimendi would be the best replacement for Thomas Partey as he will offer assurance and stability in midfield. His reading of the game is excellent and dictating the play very well. Declan Rice might improve to another level with him as his partner. 2nd option for me is Yousseff Fofana. Rumor says he’ll be available for less than 20m. Amoudo Onana would be good too if not too expensive. I like Joao Neves for his technique and tenacity but he seems a bit lightweight as a shield for the back 4. Buying a winger to cover both flanks would be more important than a striker for me although I would like to see Amario Cozery Duberry and Ethan Nwanari being given more chances. I’m really hoping the Semih Kilicsoy rumors is true and they are really serious about buying him. This boy seems like having a tremendous potential. Zirkzee for me If they still want to add a new striker for the same reason as GAI suggested but I would prefer to promote Mika Biereth and Chido Obi into the squad. Seems like Bayern is trying to snatch the later one though. Hopefully they can confirm Ferdi Kadioglu signing soon as he’s so talented, professional and a very versatile player.
In response to daveg. One thing that has happened is that Areteta has brought out the best of Havertz. Much better than when he was with Chelsea. Chelsea treated him as player quite badly. Correct me if I’m wrong but for the 17 games he played as a forward, Havertz contributed to 19 goals (11 goals and 8 assists). So up front is his best position. Im happy for him to stay. But we still need to get a top forward
As for this question, I agree with those who say Douglas Luiz. I like him a lot
Still haven’t decided on a forward. Although we need another quality one
I’m still hoping they will keep Thomas Partey until his contract runs out because he’s still one the best DM in the league when fit and the perfect partner for Rice but it seems like they are running out of patience with him.
We need to stop spending on one position repeatedly like we doing in the CAM. We have to build a solid team a team that is capable of competing with big teams like Real Madrid. My wish list is as follows. NETO,Chiesa/ Bailey and Joshua K.
Wish lists are kind of pointless unless you stay within the realms of feasibility.
Therefore, I think a good summer that is practical and possible would be:
Jorrel Hato
Joshua Kimmich
Amadou Onana
Pedro Neto
Andrij Lunin
Pick 3 or Viktor Gyökeres.
The solutions does not always have to be 100m players and 200m net spend. I do not expect a big net spend this year.
Nketiah, Nelson, ESR, Ramsdale are helping us fulfil home grown quota of 8(we have 10). I am expecting Nelson, Nketiah and Ramsdale to leave. 60mil. Promote Hein.
Next is Partey to leave, 20m.
Loan players Marquinhos, Tevares, Tierney should go, 20m.
Cedric and Elneny are gone. Some wages are free. Squad spots too.
Expect Lokonga to stay in the team this year.
Now that is 100m, 3 squad players gone, 7 home grown players left. Bring Patino, Nwaneri, Norton-Cuffy/Walters to squad, make up for home grown quota again to 10.
2 spots left in squad. May be 3 if we keep 1 youngster as U21s. Bring in a CDM and a ST/goal scoring left winger. We are buying Raya too this year. Makes it 150mil+
Now I am not sure what we do with Vieira or Zinchenko/Kiwior if a good offer comes. Also, we have to invest in new loan players. The 15mil talents that we can send on loan, we do not have any that can rise in value.
I’d keep Nuno Tavares: he’s an elite level athlete and a good ‘attacker’ too. Could battle Saka for that wing . . . If we fail to get the likes of Olise, Bowen, Kudus . . . I see more of an attacker than a defender in him.
I’m not taking any talks of signing a striker serious until we let go of Jesus.
I’d keep Nketiah and Partey for the season . . .
Flush the rest.
* I’d love to keep Rowe as I rate him higher than Ødegaard. But injuries, injuries, injuries. Let him try his luck elsewhere.
* In Nelson I see childish playfulness in some aspects of his game and I’ve never taken any such player serious no matter the talent – let him go.
* Sell Vieira – too weak. I don’t fancy players who are not expected to make body contact with a girl and not loss the ball. Good technically, but that is just about it. He has all almost all the downsides of Jorginho. Maybe harsh. But slow, weak players are a no for me. They look like people injured from birth. But his shooting and positioning is good though.
Cedric gone.
Elneny gone.zv
* Cesare Casadei from Chelsea looks good for a long term project while we look for one or two to replace both Partey and Jorginho in two seasons.
I’ve just remembered this is a wish-list. So I wish we sign Rodri, Haaland, and John Stones.
Manager does not rate Nketiah, ESR or nelson, does not give them minutes when first choice is injured.
Tavares on wing will have speed, but no end product. I agree he can be last resort.
Partey has 1 year left on contract, last chance to get some money for him. Saudi will come with 20-25m offer. He is gr8, but you have to consider availability too.
A deep lying playmaker plus destroyer hybrid as a CDM, I think Joao Neves would fit the bill there. Good defensively yet really crafty player. We have been linked with Onana and Fofana, that are superb defensively but I don’t think that profile really suits us as we saw how we struggled to break the lines when Rice played at six. So we need a hybrid player there, more physical and defensively astute than Jorginho with possessing his passing acumen to a certain level as well. A balance of Partey and Jorgi. Onana and Fofana are great though, it would slightly change the dynamic, but with little coaching they can do the job really well too.
Promote Biereth, Nwaneri, Duberry, and Lewis-Skelly, Karl Hein to the first team. Offload Nketiah, Partey, Nelson, Ramsdale, even Smithrowe.
Get Hato, or Diomande, or Antonio Silva, that can be good backups to the back line.
I think I would be really happy that way.
Since this is a wish list . . .
Sell:
Gabriel Jesus.
Jorginho.
Tierney.
Vieira.
Nelson.
Zinchenko.
Ramsdale
Elneny and Cedric gone.
Sign:
Rodri
Haaland
John Stones
Cesare Casadei
David Raya
Andriy Lunin
Loan:
Smith-Rowe
Nketiah
Promote:
Duberry
Nwaneri
Sell the on loan guys. Keep Tavares, maybe.
Realistic window:
Amadou Onana
Xavi Simmons (loan with OTB)
Diarby or Bakayoko
Fofana
Kadıoğlu
One player I really would have liked is Lucas Paqueta. I’ve seen him dominate strong players, making the look like toys. Just has some issues hanging on his neck.
Having watched all of our matches over last season, it was obvious to me that we missed Xhaka.
Martinelli got a lot of stick from the pundits because he was ineffective for many of the matches.
Again, it is because we had Havertz playing in midfield.
Arteta saved some Face by moving the very expensive slow footed Havertz up front up front.
Arteta did not solve Martinelli’s problem of lack of support until Partey came back into the side, although even he was not a real left sided player.
So again, in my view, our biggest need is for a left footed DM to support Martinelli.
If this new DM is worth his salt, then both he and/or Rice can move forward, as the game dictates.
The screaming for a fast left back is all noise to me.
We had a a guy named Taveres who was quick and played left back, but all he did was carry the ball to far and occupied the space Martinelli and/or ESR played in!
If we manage to get this “top class” left sided DM I think we will solve a lot of the problems we clamor for a forward or a left back to solve.
If it costs us $100m? for the right player, I think it would be worth it.
Again I would keep Partey for another year as back up!!!