Arsenal stock take ahead of summer transfer window Arsenal have work to do in the summer transfer window when it opens next Season

Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak both feature in our stock take of Arsenal’s

Domestically, Arsenal have fallen short this season. After pushing Manchester City all the way last campaign, Gunners fans could be forgiven for feeling disappointed with a title bid that failed to ever really get going.

You would have struggled to find people to believe you if you predicted that Liverpool would be crowned Premier League champions with four games left to play and that Arsenal would be 15 points off the pace.

But this is the situation that Mikel Arteta finds himself in.

The impressive Champions League run aside, Arteta’s men have failed to deliver the relentless consistency that is needed to win titles in a world were achieving more than 90 points has become the minimum requirement to even challenge.

There have been far too many draws and far too many missed opportunities to maintain pressure on Arne Slot’s new-look Liverpool side who have led from the front with ruthless composure.

It is not as if Arsenal have lacked quality. Their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, which has included the dismantling of reigning European champions Real Madrid, has proven as much.

But injuries in forward areas have exposed a lack of squad depth that has ultimately cost the club when it mattered most.

The prolonged absence of Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus as well as the hamstring injury sustained by Kai Havertz in February has left the squad having to function without a recognised striker.

Midfielder Mikel Merino has deputised well in this role, scoring at vital times to save the Gunners, but Arteta has had limited firepower and scope to change games when things are not going to plan.

The 43-year-old admitted that the club’s failed attempts to sign attacking reinforcements in January were “disappointing” and he will no doubt be keen to begin next campaign better equipped.

Here we set out the transfer business Arsenal need to conduct if they are to bounce back from this season’s league disappointment and challenge for the title once again.

A No.9 is essential

You have to scroll past 18 names on the Premier League top scorers list before you come across an Arsenal player.

Havertz, with his tally of nine league goals, tops the Arsenal scoring charts despite not featuring in more than two months.

Liverpool, by comparison, have three players who have matched or surpassed Havertz’s total, including Mohamed Salah who currently sits on 28 goals with four games left to play.

Of course, individual goal contributions are not a perfect measure of attacking success, and Arsenal still sit second in the table for a reason.

But it does beg the question as to where they might have ended up had they possessed a striker of the quality of Salah, Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak – the league’s current three top scorers.

There have been notable examples this season where, with a bit more attacking firepower, Arsenal may have turned draws into wins.

Most notably at Old Trafford in March where a toothless Arsenal were unable to make their possession and domination count in a frustrating 1-1 draw.

This came off the back of a poor 1-0 home defeat to struggling West Ham and a disappointing 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.

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The hierarchy at the Emirates Stadium had attempted to address this issue in January. There was a failed move for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as well as interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – both of which failed to materialise.

Attention now turns to the summer with a new striker the highest item on the recruitment department’s agenda.

There is continued interest in Sesko with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres also a target.

Saka burden

With England star Bukayo Saka also facing prolonged spells on the sidelines this season, Arsenal have at times struggled to cope without his world-class ability to produce match-winning moments.

Martin Odegaard has failed to recreate the form shown in previous seasons, with the Norwegian scoring just twice in 26 league appearances.

While Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are undoubtedly talented, Arteta has been unable to rely on the duo to consistently produce in the absence of Saka, Jesus, and Havertz.

To take that next step and win the Premier League, Arsenal need a squad laden with more world-class attackers akin to what Slot has inherited at Anfield.

Links to Newcastle’s Isak and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams are promising but only a busy summer can close the gap to champions Liverpool.

Zubimendi deal

With Thomas Partey and Jorginho seeing their contracts expire this summer, there is a midfield question that needs answering too.