What’s next for Arsenal?
Following a season filled with many highs and lows the question must be asked, where do Arsenal go after finishing a disappointing fifth place in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign?
After starting the season with three straight defeats you would think a fifth place finish would be great for Arsenal. However, ask any Arsenal fan they would tell you finishing in fifth place is not something to be excited about. Another season of Europa League football simply does not cut it for such a historically great club. To make matters worse, arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur finished one spot above Arsenal to clinch Champions League football. Playing in the Champions League is always a selling point in acquiring transfer targets and without that Arsenal may struggle to bring talent in during the summer transfer window. In order to challenge for the top four next season, Arsenal need to make sure the 2022 summer transfer window is a successful one.
Starting with what positions Arsenal need to prioritize this summer, there are three that stand out. Center back, center mid, and a striker are what Arsenal should be targeting. The first one on that list should be quite an easy fix. With William Saliba’s loan spell coming to an end at Marseille, he is the perfect center back option for Arsenal. Coming off a campaign in which Saliba started over 40 games for Marseille and won Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season, Arsenal fans cannot wait to see Saliba finally back at Arsenal.
As for the center midfield targets, Arsenal are in need of someone who can play alongside Thomas Partey. Partey, coming off a successful, yet injury ridden season, needs a better partner than Granit Xhaka. While the pair looked good this season, if Arsenal wants to progress as a club, Xhaka needs to become a squad player, not a starter. This is where Ruben Neves comes in. Already a proven Premier League player, Neves seems like an ideal match for Partey as well as Arsenal. Neves is incredible in possession which is a necessity for a team who looks to play out of the back, like Arsenal do. With a player who can disrupt play like Partey, Neves is the perfect calm and technical player that can dictate possession in the Arsenal midfield. Neves currently plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers who are asking for 70 million euros for the Portuguese player. This is no doubt an expensive price tag, but if Arsenal are serious about competing for Champions League spots next season, these are the fees they need to pay.
A striker is arguably what Arsenal need most going forward. Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers including Darwin Nunez, Gabriel Jesus, Marcus Rashford, and many more. While bringing in a player such as Nunez, who bagged 32 goals in 38 games across all competitions in 2021-22, would be incredible, I do not think it is realistic because Arsenal will not be in the Champions League. A more realistic option would be Tammy Abraham, who Arsenal has been linked with. Abraham has also stated he is open to coming back to the Premier League with Arsenal. Abraham is a tall physical player who can be a platform for Arsenal to play off of. Abraham also has the quality to finish in front of goal, setting a record for most goals scored as an Englishman in the Serie A with 17 goals this season. With a price tag of 67 million euros, Tammy Abraham seems like a perfect option for Arsenal.
There are many steps Arsenal need to take in order to reach the heights of the Champions League. By bringing in these players Arsenal will undoubtedly be taking steps in the right direction.
