However, despite only four weeks to go and the pre-season tour of the United States kicking off next week, there remain plenty of jobs still to do. With potential incomings and outgoings plus a better understanding of what Arteta’s best team might look like, the club has potentially left much of their needs rather late.
The European Championships and Copa America combined with recent Profit and Sustainability Regulation deadlines have been the cause of this delay as Arteta has already eluded to. football.london looks into what is left on the tick list.
Raise the level
Mikel Arteta spoke to the Arsenal website ahead of pre-season. Having taken some of the squad to Marbella for an early training camp, he explained how some had already been impressed that things were going to go even further.
"For me, the best thing is when they come here on the first day and when they look at us, when they see the attitude and when they see the preparation when they hear the words that we are using to start the preparation for this season, then they go, ‘Wow, this is going up a level again, so what we did last season is not going to be enough. If I want to play and I want to be competing in this team, I’m going to have to do something extra’.”
This will be music to the ears of Arsenal supporters who will be expectant of another big season as they aim to overhaul Manchester City. In the coming weeks, Arteta will need to see this in all of his players and the potential signings who arrive.
Move on the surplus
The club still needs to move on plenty of players who are sadly not at what is deemed to be the required standard. Already Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares have seen their deals expire while Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares have also joined new sides for the new season.
An offer has been rejected for Emile Smith Rowe with a growing expectation he could be sold to Fulham – other clubs are also keen – and Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Aaron Ramsdale, Thomas Partey, Jakub Kiwior and more have been linked with sales. Getting money in is not the priority, but more so making room so that the club can bring in potential upgrades to the squad and raise the level to better compete across multiple competitions.
Improve the squad
The big focus is of course the signings the club might and want to make. The priority is in central midfield, football.london understands with interest in Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino the most prevalent name at the moment.
However, there is a further need to recruit in the goalkeeping position having agreed on a deal for Ajax’s Tommy Setford and had a bid rejected for Dan Bentley of Wolves. The club are in ongoing negotiations with Bologna for a deal for Riccardo Calafiori and have a keen interest in reinforcing their forward line too.
Ideally, the deals would be done in time for players to have some game time in pre-season, failing that at least before the opening game of the campaign. Arsenal take on Wolves on August 17 while prior to that fly to the United States on July 21 so time is quickly running out.
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