Arsenal must utilize the transfer market to build on Mikel Arteta’s success so far

Arsenal have secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season. They look likely to miss out on what would have been a remarkable Premier League title victory. Arteta has laid solid foundations for the successful future of the club, but he must be backed in the transfer market to prepare his squad for UCL football and another title challenge.

Mikel Arteta has turned the club around

Last season Arsenal missed out on the Premier League’s top four altogether. Yet this time, they have been convincing title challengers and have confirmed their pathway into the UCL with games to spare.

The Gunners last participated in the competition in the 2016/17 season. But Arteta has finally guided the club back to the peak of European football after many years of waiting. It took the Spanish coach just three full campaigns since leaving Manchester City to finish in the top four with Arsenal. His former club is the favorite to win the competition this season in a bet on Champions League at odds of -150. However, serial winners Real Madrid are also seen to be a huge threat in the Champions League winner odds as they are offered at +350. These are the sort of teams that Arsenal will be facing next season when they enter the biggest stage once again. 

Arsenal need to improve their squad depth

UCL football attracts the highest quality players and rakes in lucrative funding which will benefit Arsenal in the transfer market. Balancing the UCL alongside the Premier League also comes with the requirement of quality depth within a team’s overall squad. Arsenal’s schedule will be more demanding, but they will have the funds to build a larger squad. 

Aside from the UCL, Arsenal will again attempt to mount a serious Premier League challenge. This season injuries cost them greatly. They lacked like-for-like backup options in a variety of positions. This meant Arteta had to sacrifice key components of his system to cater to more limited players. Arsenal needs to use its strong position in the transfer market to address its overall squad needs. But where specifically do they need to strengthen?

Arsenal needs to ideally sign another central defender – defensive injuries harmed their title challenge, and they could certainly affect their European ventures too. Arteta often rotated his team in the UEFA Europa League, but in the UCL a strong starting eleven is a necessity.

Midfield additions are vital, Arsenal lacks depth in this area and several additions are required realistically. Granit Xhaka is arguably the Gunners’ main leader in the middle of the park, but he has become injury prone. Arteta will need to find a solid alternative to replicate Xhaka’s influence on and off the ball. 

Attacking depth was added in the January window in the form of Leandro Trossard, but more regular goalscorers are needed. Gabriel Jesus is an excellent footballer, but a more prolific forward leading the line could be more effective for Arsenal. The Gunners are in the midst of an exciting project and there is no better time to attract one of Europe’s leading forwards to the club. 

Ultimately, the club’s owners cannot afford to stand still. Arsenal have an excellent squad, but added depth is needed in order to help them regularly compete across several competitions. Arsenal has not had this level of pull in the transfer market for half a decade. They must provide Arteta with key additions to his squad this summer, to prevent his project from stagnating.