Arsenal dream starting XI for 2025/26 if Andrea Berta secures £185m triple transfer deal

A look at what Arsenal’s starting line-up could look like for the opening Premier League match of the 2025/26 season if the Gunners’ transfer targets are obtained

Rodrygo and Martin Zubimendi have both been linked with moves to Arsenal (Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez

Arsenal’s starting line-up for the opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League season will look completely different to the one fielded on the last day of this campaign.

The likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Jakub Kiwior and Raheem Sterling all started in the 2-1 win against Southampton on May 25. Ethan Nwaneri also started, while Mikel Merino was deployed as a striker just like he was so many times in the closing months of the season.

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There will be change at Emirates Stadium this summer, though, with Sterling returning to Chelsea after his season-long loan and Jorginho and Kieran Tierney leaving the club as free agents. A number of arrivals are expected, too, with the club on the hunt for a back-up goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder, striker and possibly a wide forward, football.london understands.

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A deal for Martin Zubimendi is already verbally agreed, football.london understands, with the Real Sociedad midfielder likely to make the move to north London in July for financial reasons. The Spaniard has a £51million release clause in his contract and it’s thought the deal is all but wrapped up, with only a medical left to complete.

Sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta will likely turn their attention to a new striker next. It’s understood the club are pressing ahead with a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko, who has been scouted heavily in recent years and came close to joining the Gunners last summer.

The Slovenian scored 21 goals in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig during the 2024/25 campaign and at the age of 22 has plenty of time to improve. It’s said Sesko’s release clause is now in excess of £66million (€78million), although the club still admire Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres who is said to be available for around £60million (€71million).

Arsenal are also interested in signing a wide forward, with the likes of Nico Williams and Leroy Sane linked with a move. Another player who has been tipped to join the Gunners this summer is Real Madrid star Rodrygo. The Brazilian, who scored 14 goals and assisted 10 more in 51 appearances for Los Blancos this season, will not be let go for anything less than £67.5million (€80million), though, according to reports in Spain.

The 24-year-old, who can play on the left and the right, would offer some added quality to the Arsenal squad and immediately improve the starting XI. If the Brazilian did join, he would most likely play on the left, with Bukayo Saka on the right and a new striker, perhaps Sesko, down the middle.