Arteta’s Arsenal Complete Transfer Puzzle: Big Expectations for the New Season

After a summer of significant spending, Arsenal has finally added the missing piece to their transfer puzzle with the signing of Viktor Gyokeres. As the Gunners gear up to win their first trophy in over half a decade, there can be no excuses for Mikel Arteta’s side in the upcoming Premier League race.

Over the last three seasons, Arsenal has proven that they possess the capability to claim the Premier League title. Despite this, they haven’t managed to secure it since 2004. With a hat-trick of second-place finishes and twice surpassing the 80-point mark, Arsenal has shown promise but has yet to secure a major trophy in the five years following the first coronavirus lockdown.

Arteta’s Arsenal Reimagined

Arsenal’s transformation under Arteta has been both heartwarming and agonising for fans. The team has been completely reborn, shaking off the restrictions that hindered them during the final seasons of Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery. Even with this newfound vigour, the Gunners have not been able to convert their performances into tangible success.

This is not enough for the club. Arteta and his squad want more. Over the last three seasons, the manager has rallied the crowd at the Emirates Stadium, promising that the team will return stronger. As he heads into his sixth full season in charge, Arteta is now assembling his ideal squad, though this comes with the added pressure of delivering on their promise.

Record-breaking Transfer Window

At the start of June, some Arsenal fans expressed concern that the club were moving too slowly in the summer window, as rivals Liverpool and Manchester City made early moves. Since then, new sporting director Andrea Berta has acted quickly to close a number of deals, with Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke all signing on, and with Viktor Gyokeres and Cristhian Mosquera set to follow. If all six signings are sealed before the first-team jets off to Asia next week, it will be a record number for new signings that Arsenal have had ready for a pre-season tour since transfer windows became enforced.

Gyokeres, the “Missing Piece”

Many Arsenal fans have been pleading for a hard-hitting centre forward, a brute who could score goals by the bucket load and ease the pressure on Havertz, whose lack of clinical edge only brought renewed frustrations when he was fit last season. Arsenal narrowed down their summer options to Gyokeres and RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko, ultimately choosing Gyokeres. With his addition, Arsenal now sports a more complete set of weapons in attack and a striker who could feasibly challenge for the Golden Boot.

Strength in Depth

While the fanfare of Arsenal’s summer will continue to surround Gyokeres, he’s not the only addition that supporters should be excited about. Madueke will give them another dimension in the frontline, Zubimendi brings variety to a midfield that went stale at points in 2024-25, and Brentford captain Norgaard replaced Jorginho. Back-up goalkeeper Neto has been replaced by his Bournemouth successor, Kepa. Arsenal’s 2024-25 fell apart largely because they simply could not withstand an injury crisis. Should they avoid such awful luck again this time around, they ought to return to their formidable selves.

Time to Win

Arteta and Arsenal cannot be driven by fear any longer. Their regression into marginal-gains tactics in search of complete control without error has detracted from what is an exciting team who can and should be winning trophies. This summer’s spending spree suggests Arteta and Arsenal know they are in touching distance of glory. Time will tell whether they’re successful in this latest push.